Medical Science
Volume 24, Issue 103, May - June, 2020
Assessment of population knowledge towards osteoporosis in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Awad Alshahrani1, Bin Saaran Maha2, Alkhulaifi Sumaya2, Alshammari Tahani2, Amnah Alanazi2, Alamri Amal2, Aljudaie Atheer2♦
1Consultant, Division of endocrinology, Department of medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh
2Medical Intern, King Abdulaziz bin Saud University for Health Science, Riyadh.
♦Corresponding author
Medical Intern, King Abdulaziz bin Saud University for Health Science, Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia
Email: Atheer.aljedaie@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Osteoporosis is a common disease with significant morbidity. It usually affects females due to breast feeding without
supplementation and hormonal changes. However, osteoporosis can be prevented or even improved through some measures. Yet
prevention of osteoporosis is highly dependent on the population knowledge about these measures. Objective: Our goal is to
evaluate the community awareness about osteoporosis in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A self-administered structured
questionnaire was distributed to all osteoporotic patients meeting the inclusion criteria will be recruited in this study in the period
from September 2019 to October 2019 at NGHA endocrinology clinic. All data were recorded in a pre -designed and validated excel
sheet. Data were represented in terms of frequencies and valid percentages for categorical variables. Results: 69 participants
responded to this questionnaire. Mean score for the whole cohort was 16.28±6.64, with a minimum score of 3 and maximum score
of 33. Additionally, there is a significant difference between the level of knowledge of patients and care givers at p value =0.042.
Care givers had a significantly higher mean score (17.38±6.357). Moreover, level of knowledge among different educational level
differed significantly at p-value =0.005. Participants with postgraduate degree had the highest score (23.67±4.041), with a direct
correlation between level of knowledge and educational level. Conclusion: Level of knowledge of the Saudi patients and caregivers is
considered unsatisfactory, further efforts are required to improve this level of knowledge.
Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, general public, Osteoporosis, Saudi Arabia
Medical Science, 2020, 24(103), 1010-1018
