Recurrent sore throat is a common ailment that significantly impacts the quality of life for individuals, leading to discomfort, pain, and impaired daily activities. Recurrent sore throat, also known as recurrent pharyngitis, is characterized by multiple episodes of throat inflammation and discomfort within a specific period. It can have various etiologies, including viral or bacterial infections, allergies, environmental factors, or underlying medical conditions. The symptoms of recurrent sore throat often include pain, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and enlarged tonsils. These symptoms can significantly impact an individual's daily life, leading to missed school or work days, decreased productivity, and a decreased overall quality of life [1-4].

While recurrent sore throat is a prevalent condition, there is limited research on the perception of patients regarding its causes, management, and impact on their lives. By exploring patients' perceptions, healthcare providers can gain valuable insights into the experiences and concerns of individuals affected by recurrent sore throat. This information can inform healthcare professionals about the specific needs and challenges faced by patients, helping them develop tailored treatment strategies and educational interventions [5-8].

Understanding the perception of patients regarding recurrent sore throat is crucial for effective management and improved patient outcomes. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the perception of patients attending the outpatient department of Civil Hospital Jogindernagar, Himachal Pradesh, regarding recurrent sore throat.

The findings of this study will contribute to the existing literature by providing insights into the perception of patients regarding recurrent sore throat. It will help identify gaps in knowledge, misconceptions, and areas for improvement in patient education and healthcare delivery. The results may guide healthcare providers in developing targeted interventions to enhance patient understanding, adherence to treatment, and overall satisfaction with care.

Objectives of the Study

This objective of this research article is to assess the knowledge and perceptions regarding recurrent sore throat among patients attending the outpatient department of Civil Hospital Jogindernagar, located in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.

• Research Approach: Descriptive

• Research Design: Hospital based cross-sectional survey design

• Setting of the Study: OPD in Civil hospital Jogindernagar, , Himachal Pradesh

• Study duration: Between January 2023- April 2023

• Study population:  Patients aged above 18 years came to OPD 

• Sample Size: 400 Patients, assuming 50% have adequate knowledge regarding recurrent sore throat, 5% absolute error, 95% confidence level, and 5% non-response rate.

• Sampling Technique: Convenience Sampling technique

• Sampling Criteria: First five patients who came to OPD were selected everyday till the completion of sample size after explaining the purpose of the study Informed consent was taken from them and confidentiality  of the selected  participants was also maintained 

• Inclusive Criteria: Patients who were willing to participate in the study

• Exclusion Criteria: Patients who were not willing to participate in the study

• Description of Tool- 

• Demographic data survey instrument: The demographic form elicited information on participants’ background: age, gender, marital status, religion, employment, education, family’s monthly income etc

• Questionnaire: The questionnaire contains 20 structured knowledge related questions. One mark was given for each correct answer and zero for incorrect answer. The maximum score was 20 and minimum score was zero. Scoring was done on the basis of marks as >80%(16-20)=very good,60-79%(12-15) =Good,41-59% ( 8-11)=Fair,<40% (< 8)=poor

• Validity of Tool: By the experts in this field

• Data Collection: By  under the guidance of supervisors and patients were given 30 minutes time to complete that questionnaire and collected at the end of the prescribed time

• Data Analysis: With Epi Info V7 Software with appropriate statistical test in terms of frequencies, percentage

The goal of the current study was to assess the awareness regarding   recurrent sore throat among patients attending outpatient department of civil hospit, Jogindernagar, Himachal Pradesh.

A total of 400 respondents including 282 (70.5%) male patients and 118 (39.5%) female patients were participated in the study. Among the total, 137 (34.25%) were from urban area and 263 (65.75%) were from rural area.

In the present study 27.25% (109) participants had very good knowledge (16-20 marks) towards recurrent sore throat., 40.75% (163) had good knowledge (12-15 marks), 25.25%(101) had fair knowledge  (8-11 marks) and 6.75% (27) having poor knowledge  (<8 marks).

The present cross-sectional study aimed to explore the perception of patients attending the outpatient department of Civil Hospital Jogindernagar, Himachal Pradesh, regarding recurrent sore throat. The study included 400 respondents, with a majority of male participants (70.5%) compared to female participants (39.5%). The distribution of participants was approximately two-thirds from rural areas (65.75%) and one-third from urban areas (34.25%).

The study assessed the knowledge of participants regarding recurrent sore throat using a structured questionnaire. The findings revealed that a significant proportion of respondents (27.25%) demonstrated very good knowledge, scoring   between 16  to 20 marks out of the total possible marks. Additionally, 40.75% of the participants had good knowledge, scoring  between   12 to 15 marks, while 25.25% had fair knowledge, scoring between 8 to 11 marks. Only a small percentage of participants (6.75%) exhibited poor knowledge, scoring less than 8 marks.

The results of the knowledge assessment highlight a positive aspect of patient awareness concerning recurrent sore throat. With a substantial percentage of participants demonstrating good and very good knowledge, it suggests that efforts to educate patients about this condition may have been relatively effective in the study area. However, the study also identifies a significant proportion with fair or poor knowledge, indicating the need for continued and targeted patient education initiatives to improve understanding and management of recurrent sore throat.

To put the findings of this study into context, it is essential to compare them with similar research conducted in other settings. Unfortunately, there is a limited body of literature specifically focusing on patient perception of recurrent sore throat. However, studies examining patient perceptions and knowledge related to other health conditions can offer some insights.

In a study on patient perception and knowledge of tonsillectomy by Salih et al. 9, it was found that a considerable percentage of patients had misconceptions about the procedure and its indications. This finding aligns with the present study's results, which identified a proportion of participants with fair or poor knowledge about recurrent sore throat. It emphasizes the significance of targeted patient education to dispel misconceptions and improve overall understanding.

Table-1: Knowledge Regarding Recurrent Sore Throat among Study Participants

Table 2: Knowledge Score Regarding Recurrent Sore Throat among Study Participants Discussion

Another relevant study by Linder and Stafford10 investigated antibiotic treatment of adults with sore throat by primary care physicians. The study revealed that antibiotics were often prescribed inappropriately for sore throat, indicating a knowledge gap among healthcare providers. Although the present study did not focus on healthcare provider behavior, it indirectly highlights the importance of not only educating patients but also ensuring that healthcare providers are well-informed about appropriate management of recurrent sore throat.

Limitations

Limitations of this study include its cross-sectional design, which provides a snapshot of patient perception at a specific time, and the limited generalizability due to the study's focus on a specific geographical location. Future research should consider longitudinal designs and broader sampling to provide more comprehensive insights into patient perceptions regarding recurrent sore throat and to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of educational interventions.

This cross-sectional study shed light on the perception of patients attending Civil Hospital Jogindernagar, Himachal Pradesh, regarding recurrent sore throat. The findings indicate that while a significant percentage of participants demonstrated good and very good knowledge, a notable proportion still exhibited fair or poor knowledge about the condition. Efforts to educate patients about recurrent sore throat appear to have made some positive impact, but there remains a need for ongoing patient education initiatives to address knowledge gaps and misconceptions.

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3.   Linder, J.A. and Stafford, R.S. "Antibiotic treatment of adults with sore throat by community primary care physicians: a national survey 1989-1999." JAMA, vol. 286, no. 10, pp. 1181–1186, 2001.

4.   Salih, A.H., et al. "Perception and knowledge of patients regarding tonsillectomy." European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, vol. 266, no. 10, pp. 1599–1603, 2009.

5.   Sathe, N. A. et al "Pharyngitis recurrent." StatPearls, 2021. PMID: 30571096.

6.   "Chronic pharyngitis." Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22280-chronic-pharyngitis (Accessed on 15 May 2023).

7. "Sore throat pharyngitis a to z." Harvard Health Publishing. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/sore-throat-pharyngitis-a-to-z (Accessed on 15 May 2023).

8.   "Pharyngitis." Antimicrobe. Available at: http://www.antimicrobe.org/e36.asp (Accessed on 15 May 2023).