A Cross-Sectional Saudi Study on Thyroid Illness Awareness and Knowledge
Main Article Content
Abstract
prevalent worldwide. Individuals may experience adverse consequences as a result of their limited understanding of symptoms and risk factors. The purpose of this article is to assess the level of awareness and understanding among the general people in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) regarding thyroid problems.
Methodology: A cross-sectional online survey was done among the general public of Saudi Arabia using a pre-designed online questionnaire. The survey consisted of many sections that included questions requiring responses of 'yes', 'no', or 'I don't know'. The statistical software package utilized for all statistical studies was SPSS version 21. The findings of the study encompassed a total of 2362 individuals, with 53% representing the female population and 47% representing the male population. A total of 40.7% of the individuals included in the study fell between the age range of 21 to 30 years. The majority of participants (97.7%) reported prior knowledge of the thyroid gland. In the study, it was found that 30.9% of the participants had a high level of knowledge regarding thyroid glands, while 50.8% exhibited a moderate level of knowledge, and 18.9% shown a poor level of knowledge. A noteworthy correlation was observed between comprehension of thyroid disease and both gender and age.
Conclusion: The level of understanding among the general people in Saudi Arabia regarding thyroid problems was found to be quite low in comparison to global statistics. It is recommended that health authorities organize health education events of greater efficacy in order to enhance the understanding of thyroid disorders among the general population and caregivers. These events should emphasize the need of early detection and proper management of such conditions.
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