ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF THYROID DISORDERS RISK FACTORS AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS AMONG ADULTS IN SAUDI ARABIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Abstract
Background: Thyroid disorders are common, often underdiagnosed, endocrine disorders that have an effect on health and quality of life. Early identification and management of these disorders is important in Saudi Arabia, and for improving lymphoma public awareness of risk factors and its clinical manifestations is imperative. The objective of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and awareness of the risk factors and the clinical manifestations of a thyroid disorder among adults living in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A self-reported online questionnaire was used in a cross-sectional study on 403 participants 18 years and older. Data were collected from June 2022 until November 2024 and analyzed with SPSS (version 25). Subjects were recruited based on inclusion criteria: Saudi Arabia and having given informed consent.
Results: The analyses were done on 403 participants, with a mean age of 30.7 years. For example, we found 77.9% gender representation of females. Overall good awareness regarding thyroid disorders was found with 53.6% scoring a mean of 25.1±4.48 out of 34 points. Interestingly 79.9% thought of the location of the thyroid gland; only 37.0% mentioned women with thyroid insufficiency could conceive normally. No significant knowledge gaps existed with respect to symptoms and medication known to induce thyroid disorders; however, only 63.9% knew the role of iodized salt in treatment. Relationships between knowledge levels and age, occupational status, region of residence and monthly income were statistically significant.
Conclusion: The study indicates that Saudi adults are moderately aware of thyroid disorders, and further targeted educational interventions focusing on knowledge deficits are urgently needed with emphasis on fertility implications and symptoms of hypothyroidism. The quality of public knowledge can have a significant impact in terms of earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for health, but there is a need for more extensive spread of information about thyroid health in Saudi Arabia. To explore deeper demographic influences on awareness and knowledge retention further research is warranted.