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. 2026 May 26;14:1809153. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1809153

Table 2.

Demographic characteristics, CKD-related knowledge, practice, and perceived barriers among primary healthcare providers (N = 960).

Variable Total (N = 960) CHCs (n = 293) THCs (n = 667) P-value
Demographics and professional characteristics
Male, n (%) 412 (42.9) 125 (42.7) 287 (43.0) 0.681
Female, n (%) 548 (57.1) 168 (57.3) 380 (57.0)
Institution type, n (%)
Community health centers (CHCs) 293 (30.5) 293 (100.0) 0 (0.0)
Township health centers (THCs) 667 (69.5) 0 (0.0) 667 (100.0)
Job category, n (%) <0.001
Nurse 380 (39.6) 131 (44.7) 249 (37.3)
Public health physician 193 (20.1) 55 (18.8) 138 (20.7)
Surgeon 145 (15.1) 38 (13.0) 107 (16.0)
General practitioner 121 (12.6) 36 (12.3) 85 (12.7)
Internist 121 (12.6) 33 (11.3) 88 (13.2)
Working years, mean ± SD (years) 11.2 ± 6.4 12.6 ± 6.1 10.7 ± 6.5 <0.001
CKD-related knowledge
Correct–Basic definition, n (%) 576 (60.0) 185 (63.1) 391 (58.6) 0.03
Correct–High-risk group identification, n (%) 624 (65.0) 196 (66.9) 428 (64.2) 0.07
Correct–Core diagnostic indicators, n (%) 384 (40.0) 132 (45.1) 252 (37.8) 0.01
Correct–Staging principles, n (%) 365 (38.0) 118 (40.3) 247 (37.0) 0.11
Correct–Key management principles, n (%) 403 (42.0) 126 (43.0) 277 (41.5) 0.19
Overall knowledge attainment, n (%) 459 (47.8) 161 (55.0) 298 (44.7) 0.05
CKD management practice
Proactive screening, n (%) 240 (25.0) 82 (28.0) 158 (23.7) 0.02
Regular follow-up, n (%) 381 (39.7) 120 (41.0) 261 (39.1) 0.15
Standardized referral, n (%) 288 (30.0) 94 (32.0) 194 (29.1) 0.19
Perceived barriers
Lack of knowledge/skills, n (%) 612 (63.8) 176 (60.1) 436 (65.4) 0.01
Limited testing capacity, n (%) 432 (45.0) 138 (47.1) 294 (44.1) 0.13
Inadequate essential medication supply, n (%) 480 (50.0) 152 (51.9) 328 (49.2) 0.22
Inadequate referral/follow-up system, n (%) 499 (52.0) 161 (55.0) 338 (50.7) 0.12

Data are presented as n (%), mean ± standard deviation, or %. Comparisons were made between community health service centers and township health centers.