Knowledge attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals regarding diabetes self management education and support.

Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) is essential for effective diabetes care but remains underexplored in China. This study assessed healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding DSMES to optimize clinical implementation. From May 20 to August 6, 2024, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted among healthcare professionals at West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and affiliated institutions. Among 347 respondents (56.77% female), the average scores were 8.94 ± 0.27 for knowledge, 36.09 ± 3.61 for attitude, and 46.39 ± 4.34 for practice. Correlation analysis revealed a negative association between knowledge and attitude (r = - 0.139, p = 0.010) and a positive association between attitude and practice (r = 0.361, p < 0.001). Structural equation modeling revealed a negative direct effect of knowledge on attitude (β = - 0.156, p = 0.025), a positive direct effect of attitude on practice (β = 0.481, p = 0.007), and an indirect effect of knowledge on practice via attitude (β = - 0.075, p = 0.016). While healthcare professionals showed strong DSMES-related knowledge, gaps in attitude and behavioral consistency remain. Targeted strategies-such as interdisciplinary DSMES workshops and feedback-based practice evaluations-are recommended to enhance clinical implementation.