Knowledge and attitudes of Iranian patients with regard to lumbar puncture.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the knowledge and attitudes of patients towards lumbar puncture (LP), its complications, and indications.


METHODS
In a questionnaire survey, patients who were referred to the general neurology outpatient clinic at Nemazee Hospital in Shiraz, Iran, from January 2007 to January 2008 were invited to complete a questionnaire consisting of items on demographic and socioeconomic variables, experiences with LP and complications, and knowledge of and attitudes regarding LP.


RESULTS
A total of 410 patients were recruited (58% women, mean age 33.2 +/- 2.7 years). Poor knowledge of LP was highly prevalent (92.6%), and negative attitudes toward LP were also common (63%) among our patients. Skepticism regarding LP was directly related to lack of information (p=0.00007). Lower socioeconomic status, lower educational level, and residence in rural areas were associated with being less well informed about LP, but interestingly those who had experience with LP before were better informed and had more positive attitudes.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to overcome reluctance to undergo LP through education of its indications, contraindications, and complications.
Department of Neurology and the Comparative Medicine Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Tel. +98 (711) 6121065. Fax. +98 (711) 6272287. E-mail: borhanihaghighi@yahoo.com.
Afshin
A
Borhani-Haghighi
Razieh
R
Rezaei
Samaneh
S
Etemadi
Haleh
H
Ghaem
Abolhamid
A
Shariat