The Association Between Level of Experience and Knowledge, Attitude, Preventive Practice of Decompression Sickness Among Diving Instructors and Divers in Bali

Abstrak

Introduction: Behavioral factors such as knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices have an important role in health outcomes, as seen in decompression sickness, which can affect quality of life. This study aimed to determine the association between experience level with knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices of DCS among beginner divers and experienced divers in Bali. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to October 2024 among divers and dive instructors in Bali aged 18-65 years old and had been actively diving in past two years. A 54-item questionnaire was developed to evaluate knowledge (17 items), attitude (18 items), and preventive practice (19 items) related to DCS. KAP scores were categorized as good or poor, based on 80% cut-off. The association between experience level and KAP scores was assessed by Chi-Square and Spearman's rho correlation. Results: The proportion of both beginner divers and experienced divers with good knowledge was 88.0%, a good attitude was 84.0%, and a good preventive practice was 85.0%. Divers who have a higher experience level were more likely to achieve a better KAP score. Level of experience was significantly and positively associated with good knowledge (r=0.606, P<0.001), a good attitude (r=0.623, P<0.001), and good preventive practice (r=0.769, P<0.001) among beginner divers and experienced divers in Bali, although variations among individuals must be considered. Conclusion: There is an association between experience level with knowledge, attitude, and preventive practice of decompression sickness among beginner and experienced divers in Bali, with experienced divers having a higher KAP score.