LABORATORY TEST AWARENESS AND HEALTH LITERACY RATE AMONG THE POPULATION OF PAKISTAN: A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/nnmx0w24Keywords:
Awareness, Chronic Disease, Health Literacy, Laboratory Tests, Pakistan, Preventive Health, Surveys and QuestionnairesAbstract
Background: Timely diagnosis, informed decision-making, and preventive care are critical to effective healthcare systems. These functions rely heavily on individuals’ ability to understand and utilize health information, especially regarding laboratory testing. In low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan, low health literacy and limited awareness of diagnostic services continue to hinder early disease detection and management. Identifying gaps in laboratory testing awareness can inform public health strategies aimed at improving outcomes and promoting preventive care behaviors.
Objective: To assess the level of health literacy and awareness of laboratory testing among the literate population in Pakistan and to identify associated barriers to diagnostic utilization.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to May 2025 using a structured online questionnaire distributed nationwide across all provinces and Islamabad. The sample included 518 literate individuals aged 16 years and above. Data were collected on demographics, awareness of diagnostic services, health status, and perceptions toward laboratory testing. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.
Results: Among 518 respondents, 440 (84.9%) were aged 16–30 years, and 270 (52.1%) were female. Despite 86.7% agreeing that annual laboratory testing aids in early diagnosis, only 137 individuals (26.4%) had undergone a CBC test in the last six months. A total of 172 participants (33.2%) did not know their blood group, and 60 (11.6%) expressed disinterest in learning it. Chronic diseases were reported by 340 individuals, with specific conditions including diabetes (n=10), cardiovascular disease (n=6), cancer (n=2), and kidney disorders (n=8). Additionally, 129 respondents (25%) declined to disclose their health conditions.
Conclusion: The study reveals a significant gap between awareness and actual practice regarding laboratory testing in Pakistan. Targeted educational efforts and accessible diagnostic services are essential to bridge this divide and promote preventive healthcare.
References
Gilreath J, Lo M, Bubalo J. Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonists (TPO-RAs): Drug Class Considerations for Pharmacists. Drugs. 2021;81(11):1285-305.
Lautz Z, Kautz-Freimuth S, Shukri A, Redaèlli M, Rhiem K, Schmutzler R, et al. Predictors of knowledge and knowledge gain after decision aid use among women with BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants. Patient Educ Couns. 2024;124:108248.
Malas M, Aboalfaraj A, Alamoudi H, Kurdi A, Alahmadi T, Zawawi F. Pediatricians' knowledge and attitude toward hearing loss and newborn hearing screening programs. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2022;161:111265.
Acoglu EA, Oguz MM, Sari E, Yucel H, Akcaboy M, Zorlu P, et al. Parental Attitudes and Knowledge About Lumbar Puncture in Children. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2021;37(7):e380-e3.
Coupal E, Hart K, Wong B, Rothwell E. Newborn Screening Knowledge and Attitudes Among Midwives and Out-of-Hospital-Birth Parents. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2020;34(4):357-64.
Elafros MA, Belessiotis-Richards C, Birbeck GL, Bond V, Sikazwe I, Kvalsund MP. Lumbar Puncture-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Patients, Caregivers, Doctors, and Nurses in Zambia. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021;104(5):1925-31.
Kc H, Gurung A, Katuwal M, Sharma R, Parajuli SB. Knowledge, Practice and Barriers on Cervical Cancer Screening among Married Women. J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2023;20(3):755-60.
Mir ZM, Fei LYN, McKeown S, Dinchong R, Cofie N, Dalgarno N, et al. Knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and barriers pertaining to genetic literacy among surgeons: a scoping review. Can J Surg. 2024;67(2):E118-e27.
Tarlabelen Karaytuğ E, Boyraz S. Knowledge and attitudes of apheresis donors regarding apheresis blood donation. Transfus Med. 2023;33(1):39-48.
McCall MK, Ibikunle S, Murphy Y, Hunter K, Rosenzweig MQ. Knowledge and Attitudes About Genetic Testing Among Black and White Women with Breast Cancer. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2021;8(5):1208-16.
Salehiniya H, Momenimovahed Z, Allahqoli L, Momenimovahed S, Alkatout I. Factors related to cervical cancer screening among Asian women. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2021;25(19):6109-22.
Deguara M, Calleja N, England K. Cervical cancer and screening: knowledge, awareness and attitudes of women in Malta. J Prev Med Hyg. 2020;61(4):E584-e92.
Srinivasan S, Won NY, Dotson WD, Wright ST, Roberts MC. Barriers and facilitators for cascade testing in genetic conditions: a systematic review. Eur J Hum Genet. 2020;28(12):1631-44.
Alghuson L, Alturki NI, Alsulayhim AS, Alsughayer LY, Akkour KM. Awareness, Knowledge, Perceptions, and Attitudes towards Familial and Inherited Cancer. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022;58(10).
Zoltick ES, Bell M, Hickingbotham MR, Wu AC, Galbraith LN, LeBlanc JL, et al. Attitudes, knowledge, and risk perceptions of patients who received elective genomic testing as a clinical service. Genet Med. 2024;26(10):101200.
Ahmed, J., Azhar, S., ul Haq, N., Hussain, S., Stájer, A., Urbán, E., . . . Jamshed, S. (2022). Awareness of chronic kidney disease, medication, and laboratory investigation among nephrology and urology patients of Quetta, Pakistan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 5015.
Arif, A., Ahmad, E., Khan, F. N., & Fatima, R. (2021). Formal Education Vs Health Literacy: An Insight into Treatment Outcome of the Randomized Control Trial of MDR-TB Patients in Pakistan. Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, 8(1), 127-136.
Ashfaq, M., Ahmed, S. A., Aziz-Rizvi, R., Hasan, Z., Kirmani, S., Munim, S., . . . Furqan, A. (2023). Identifying the current status and future needs of clinical, educational, and laboratory genetics services in Pakistan: a web-based panel discussion. Journal of Community Genetics, 14(1), 71-80.
Chu, C. D., Chen, M. H., McCulloch, C. E., Powe, N. R., Estrella, M. M., Shlipak, M. G., & Tuot, D. S. (2021). Patient awareness of CKD: a systematic review and meta-analysis of patient-oriented questions and study setting. Kidney medicine, 3(4), 576-585. e571.
Mulat, A., Kassa, S., Belay, G., Emishaw, S., Yekoye, A., Bayu, H., & Kebede, S. (2020). Missed antenatal care follow-up and associated factors in Eastern Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. African health sciences, 20(2), 690-696.
Patel, P., & Lyons, L. (2020). Examining the knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of palliative care in the general public over time: a scoping literature review. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 37(6), 481-487.
Stewart, E., Ercia, A., Greer, S. L., & Donnelly, P. D. (2020). Between a rock and a hard place: Comparing arms’ length bodies for public involvement in healthcare across the UK. Health Policy, 124(4), 454-461.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Farah Shaikh, Abrar Ahmed Hasni, Misbah Asif, Mohammad Wasiq Waseem, Aamir Yaqoob, Summara Habib, Shoaib Hasni, Muhammad Jawad Khan (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.