Knowledge and Information Sources about Helicobacter Pylori in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and Aims: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is high worldwide and varies significantly among different regions and countries. The sources of information about HP vary among different populations. Physicians, health professionals, TV, radios, books, internet and social media are sources to get health-related information. Given the importance of accurate and reliable information, it is crucial to evaluate the knowledge and information sources related to HP among the general population in Saudi Arabia. The study was aimed to assess the public knowledge and information sources regarding Helicobacter pylori in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered online questionnaire was carried out to examine the public knowledge and their information sources about Helicobacter Pylori from April to December in 2023. Convenience sampling procedure was applied. Knowledge scores were compared with the socio-demographic characteristics using the Mann-Whitney Z-test and Kruskal Wallis H-test. Normality test has been performed using the Shapiro-Wilk test and Kolmogorov Smirnov test. Results: The overall mean knowledge score was 19.9 (SD 8.60) out of 40 points. Accordingly, it was found that more than half (52.9%), 38.8 % and 8.3% had moderate, poor and good knowledge respectively. Factors associated with increased knowledge include higher educational levels, working in the medical field, previous diagnosis of HP infection, family history of HP infection, and medical sources of HP infection. Conclusions: This study found that individuals with higher education levels, working in medical field, with a previous HP diagnosis, with a family history of infection, and those who obtained information from medical sources demonstrated better knowledge about HP infection. Addressing these gaps in knowledge is crucial, and thus, it is recommended to implement awareness campaigns aimed at bridging these knowledge gaps among the Saudi general population.

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