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. 2024 Feb;17(2):164-170.
doi: 10.25122/jml-2023-0463.

Awareness of inflammatory bowel disease among the general population of Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia

Turki Alkully  1 , Sarah Taishan  2 , Wafaa Taishan  2 , Lara Alsakka  2 , Njood Alghamdi  2 , Nouf Alghamdi  2 , Mohammed Alghamdi  2
Affiliations

Awareness of inflammatory bowel disease among the general population of Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia

Turki Alkully et al. J Med Life. 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that encompasses Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD can be debilitating and has severe effects on the quality of life of the affected individuals. However, despite the increasing frequency of IBD around the world, the general population lacks knowledge and comprehension of this illness. The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and awareness of IBD among the general population in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. We carried out a cross-sectional study using an online self-administered validated questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic questions, as well as questions regarding knowledge and awareness of IBD. The study included 473 participants selected by convenience random sampling with equal chance of selection. Approximately 61% of the participants had never heard about IBD, and for those who did, social media was the most common source of information (40.6%). Also, the majority of participants had limited knowledge about the different types of IBD (74%), their symptoms, and long-term effects. Women had a significantly higher level of adequate knowledge (12.1%) compared to men (4.8%) (P = 0.011). The study demonstrated a substantial lack of understanding and awareness of IBD among the general population in Al-Baha region, notably regarding the different types of IBD, their symptoms, and their long-term effects. The study underscores the need for further educational initiatives and resources to raise public knowledge and comprehension of IBD globally.

Keywords: Crohn’s disease; Saudi Arabia; inflammatory bowel disease; ulcerative colitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The awareness of participants regarding the symptoms of CD
Figure 2
Figure 2
The awareness of participants regarding the symptoms of UC
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of answers to the question “Do you suggest to improve public awareness about IBD through educational campaigns or sessions?”
Figure 4
Figure 4
Distribution of the level of knowledge among participants
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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