Volume 24, Issue 104, July - August, 2020

Awareness, knowledge and attitudes regarding radiofrequency ablation as treatment option for thyroid nodules in Saudi Arabia

Rahaf Albaqawi^1♦, Meshael Alreshidi¹, Adeeb Almuhelb¹, Fouad Aladel², Ibrahim Alrashidi³

¹College of Medicine, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
²Department of Radiology, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
³Department of Radiology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Rahaf Abdulaziz Albaqawi, Saudi Arabia, Hail City, 55211, Phone number: 00966536697741, Fax number: 01165270125, E-mail address: Dr.rahafalbaqawi@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Background: Thyroid nodules (TNs) are one of the most common pathologies in Saudi Arabia, and do not need intervention, however, some of them are progressive in growth and have cosmetic affects that require intervention. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the relatively new treatment options and has a high success rate with encouraging results. This study aimed to assess the awareness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a treatment option for thyroid nodules among the population in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-designed random online questionnaire completed by 876 participants from various regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Results: A total of 51.4% participants had a family history of thyroid diseases, 45.9% thought that TNs are a common disease, 41.4% did know whether TNs is a cancerous disease, 74.2% had never heard about RFA, and 46.2% did not know if RFA is a simple procedure. Conclusion: The results of the study are expected to contribute in raising the public awareness and understanding of RFA as a treatment option in TNs.

Keywords: Radiofrequency ablation, Thyroid nodules, US guided thermal ablation

Medical Science, 2020, 24(104), 2439-2444

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