Outcome measures and operational definition
The study measures the CPs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding medication
safety. The operational definitions for these terms are as follows: [18]
Knowledge: “Knowledge is a set of understandings, knowledge, and science.” It is also one’s capacity for imagining, one’s way of perceiving. Knowledge of a health behavior considered to be beneficial, however, does not automatically mean that this behavior will be followed. The degree of knowledge assessed by the survey helps to locate areas where information and education efforts remain to be exerted.
Attitude: Attitude is a way of being, a position, but sometimes involves leanings or “tendencies”. Attitude is an intermediate variable between the situation and the response to the situation. It helps explain how among the possible practices for a subject submitted to a stimulus, that subject adopts one practice and not another. Attitudes are not directly observable in practice; thus, it is a good idea to assess them. Interestingly, numerous studies have often shown a low and sometimes no connection between attitude and practices.
Practice: Practices or behaviors are the observable actions of an individual in response to a stimulus. This is something that addresses the concrete with actions. For practices related to health, one collects information on consumption of tobacco or alcohol, the practice of screening, vaccination practices, sporting activities, sexuality, etc.