Medical Science
Volume 26, Issue 130, December 2022
Knowledge and awareness toward lumbar disc herniation among general population
Naif AlHamam1, Mohammed Al Saeed2, Bashayer F Al Furaikh2, Habib Y Al Dabbab3, Mohammed Y Al Rasasy3♦, Nasser M Al Serhani3, Shima H Al Boesa4
1Assistant Professor of Orthopedics, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa,
Saudi Arabia
2Orthopedic Resident Physician, King Fahad Hospital, Al Ahsa, Saudi
Arabia
3Medical Intern, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
4Medical Student, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
♦Corresponding author
Medical Intern, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa,
Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Disc pathology is the most frequent cause of chronic LBP, with 39% of cases of LBP presenting with intervertebral disc
disease, which makes it the most common condition among the degenerative abnormalities of the lumbar spine. Therefore, this
study aims to investigate the knowledge and awareness of lumbar disc herniation among the public in single region in Saudi
Arabia. Methods and Materials: This is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study that was conducted among general population of
Al Ahsa, the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia in the period between January 2022 and June 2022. A previously
published questionnaire in literature with similar research objectives was used in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive
analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v22. Results considered statistically significant with a P value less
than 0.05. Results: A total of 995 participants completed the study questionnaire. A total of 100 (10.1%) were diagnosed with disc
prolapse and 243 (24.4%) attended or watched an awareness about disc herniation. The exact 298 (29.9%) participants had good
awareness levels, while 697 (70.1%) had poor awareness levels regarding Lumbar disc herniation (LDH), risk factors, clinical
features and management. Conclusion: The study concluded that public awareness regarding lumbar disc herniation in Al-Ahsa was
poor. Although, a good awareness level was observed among some groups such as, age group between 20-35 years, university
educated, health care workers, single, high-income category and participants who had prior knowledge about the disease.
Keywords: knowledge and awareness, lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse,
orthopedic spine surgery, lumber disc herniation, low back pain
Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms514e2592
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i130/ms514e2592
Published: 08 December 2022
