Medical Science
Volume 24, Issue 106, November - December, 2020
Knowledge, attitude and practice of small bowel obstruction among Saudi population
Nahlah S Arab1♦, Mansour I Alshehri2, Farah A Alshammari3, Ghadeer A Althaqib3, Asma A Alshammari3
1Department of Surgery, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2College of Medicine, Imam Muhammed bin Saudi Islamic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
3College of Medicine, Princess NourahBint Abdul Rahman University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
♦Corresponding author
Nahlah S. Arab
Email: nahlahsarab@gmail.com;
Address: P.O.Box100614; Riyadh 11676, Saudi Arabia;
Phone numbers: +966555520631/+966112485375
ABSTRACT
Background: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is defined as a complete or partial mechanical blockage to the passage of intraluminal
contents. In the United States, 15% of admissions for abdominal pain are secondary to SBO, with 300,000 hospital admissions
annually. The most common causes of SBO by order are adhesions followed by hernias, Crohn’s disease, malignancy, and volvulus.
Materials and Methods: The target population for this survey study was Saudi nationals aged 18 years and older. Main Outcome
Measures: The population’s knowledge level and response towards SBO. Results: Among those surveyed, 51.9% said that their source
of information on the treatment of small bowel obstruction was from websites on the internet. Almost all participants (95.3%)
agreed that it is necessary to go to the emergency department if the symptoms last for three days. Also, 61.6% strongly agreed that
it is essential to visit a health care center for SBO. A large portion (62.8%) strongly agreed to visit the doctor immediately after
having SBO symptoms. Conclusions: A positively significant relationship was found between the participants’ mean attitude (A) and
practice (P) scores.
Keywords: small bowel obstruction; adhesion; knowledge; attitude; practice
Medical Science, 2020, 24(106), 4158-4165
