Volume 26, Issue 127, September 2022

Sciatica pain in Saudi population: Knowledge and awareness assessment

Zainah Alqahtani¹, Banan Alghamdi², Turki Alharthi³, Osama Alzriri⁴, Ehda Azab⁵, Aljohrah Al-Hunaif⁶, Khames T Alzahrani⁷

¹Neurology consultant, Movement Disorder Specialist Assistant Professor at King Khaled University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
²Medical student, Albaha University, Albaha, Saudi Arabia
³Medical student, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
⁴Physical therapy student, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
⁵Medical student, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
⁶Medical student, King Khalid University Abha, Saudi Arabia
⁷BDS, PGD in Endo, Saudi Board of Endodontic SR, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Sciatica defined as a pain that radiates, the sciatic nerve travels from the lower back to the back of the thigh and down to the leg. Sciatica most commonly caused by compression or irritation of lumbosacral nerve root. Aim: To evaluate Saudi citizens' knowledge and awareness regarding sciatica. Methods: A questionnaire (online survey), a research project was carried among the Saudi population. The study was involved both male and female with age of 18 and older. The questionnaire was used to assess public knowledge and awareness of sciatica symptoms, causes, risk factors, complications and treatment. Data will be collected through medical students. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Science Software (SPSS). Results: Among 2269 respondents, 62.7% was female and 37.3% being male. Regarding sciatica pain, 66.9% of participants defined it as discomfort in the lower-back that extends to the leg and foot, whereas just 5.7% had a history of sciatica. A family history of sciatica affects 25.8% of the population. Sciatica was known to 83.7% of the respondents and 36% were aware that the majority of cases of sciatica are caused by a herniated disc in one of the spine's vertebrae. Conclusion: Saudi populations have moderate knowledge of sciatica, its causes and the nature of pain. Patient education is crucial to treating sciatica. Sciatica can have a variety of reasons. Most instances of sciatica are treated most effectively with conservative measures unless there is an immediate compression of the spinal nerves.

Keywords: Sciatica, Sciatic pain, Saudi Population, Knowledge, Awareness.

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms361e2433

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i127/ms361e2433

Published: 08 September 2022