Medical Science
Volume 25, Issue 118, December 2021
Assessment of knowledge and awareness regarding systemic lupus erythematosus among the population in Taif, Saudi Arabia
Jamal Abdullah Albishri1, Moayyad Fateh Alotbi2, Rami Faleh Algethami2♦, Amani Hassan Alrumaym2, Abdulelah Mosherf Albaradi3
1Professor of Internal Medicine & Rheumatology Taif University (TU),
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2Medical student, Taif University (TU), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
3Medical intern, Taif University (TU), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
♦Corresponding author
Medical student, Taif University (TU), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Our study aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Taif, Saudia Arabia among the Taif city population. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was started in July 2021 in Taif city on a representative sample of 450 participants. The data collection tool was an online questionnaire, which consisted of sociodemographic data and questions regarding knowledge and awareness of systemic lupus. Results: We were able to collect data from 450 participants in response to our questionnaire. Regarding knowledge about SLE, 81.1% of the participants reported that they had heard about SLE mainly from a friend or their colleagues and the Internet. Furthermore, we found that skin was the main organ known by participants to be affected by SLE (43.1%) followed by joints (29.3%), and 52.9 % of participants could identify rash as a symptom of SLE, followed by joint pain (37.3%) and alopecia (17.6%). In general, 5.6% of the participants were able to answer more than 60% of questions correctly, and those of a young age, who were male, and who were more educated had previous knowledge about SLE or diagnoses of SLE and thus showed a higher level of awareness. Conclusion: This study revealed that knowledge about SLE among participants was insufficient, especially among the less educated, and there are many misconceptions about basic information regarding this serious disease, which requires public health education.
Keywords: Autoimmune diseases, SLE, Taif city
Medical Science, 2021, 25(118), 3365-3372
