Assessment of Adults' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Helicobacter Pylori-Induced Gastric Ulcers and Cancers in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia

Background:-A gastrointestinal pathogen in humans and the most common bacteria found in the guts of nearly half of people worldwide is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). It is well recognized that H. pylori causes gastric cancer, peptic ulcers, and dyspepsia. This study aims to evaluate the adult population's existing knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding stomach malignancies and ulcers caused by H. pylori in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Methods:-This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study based on an electronic Google Forms survey conducted in January-March 2024. The target group of this study was the general adult population with H. pylori infection in the western area of Saudi Arabia. The inclusion criteria of this study were the general adult population – both male and female genders, above 18 years of age – in the western region of Saudi Arabia. We excluded those below 18 and those who did not agree to participate in our survey. We included 425 participants, and the sample size was calculated using Epi Info Software. Every participant filled out a consent form, and the university's ethics board granted ethical approval. Results:-This study comprised 425 participants from the western region of Saudi Arabia. The ages ranged from 18 to 50 years. We found that general knowledge about H. pylori-induced gastric ulcers and cancer is poor; however, knowledge regarding common causes is relatively good. Of the participants, 70.6% knew that H. pylori and stomach ulcers are related, but only 57.4% knew that H. pylori and stomach cancer are related. Additionally, 25.9% believed they may have H. pylori, and 38.4% reported having a very low risk of acquiring gastric cancer. Most of the responses demonstrated generally good practices regarding H. pylori infections. Conclusion:-General knowledge about H. pylori-induced gastric ulcers and cancer is poor. Education about H. pylori and its consequences should be the primary goal of future initiatives and programs, particularly in areas where the infection is most prevalent. However, most of our respondents showed generally good practices toward H. pylori infection.