S3039 An Evaluation of Public Awareness of Short Bowel Syndrome

Introduction: Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) is a severe, rare malabsorptive disorder often developing after a resection of large portions of the small intestine. It necessitates chronic total parenteral nutrition and multidisciplinary care. Despite the clinical relevance, public knowledge about SBS is poor. The gaps in public awareness may affect delayed diagnosis and limit patient advocacy. We sought to evaluate public perception and understanding of SBS. Methods: We surveyed public attitudes toward SBS. The survey asked opinions regarding disease awareness, understanding of treatment quality (such as nutrition and surgical intervention), views on clinical challenges, and recognition of SBS. To differentiate the response trends, information such as age, sex, education level, and medical profession was collected. The frequencies of responses were examined, and gaps were found using statistical analysis. Results: Of 112 respondents, 49% were women, and 75.1% had completed at least a bachelor’s degree. 80.4% of those surveyed said they had previously heard of SBS, only 29.5% described themselves as somewhat familiar, and just 2.7% were very familiar. Most heard about SBS through digital media and healthcare-related content. When asked about treatment, 79.5% were unsure of what is currently used, and 5.4% thought current treatments were ineffective. Only 5.48% knew someone affected by SBS. The most common challenges people associated with SBS were nutritional deficiencies (54.5%), frequent hospital visits (32.1%), and high-cost treatment options (29.5%). 19.6% of respondents said they would like to learn more about SBS and how it’s managed. When asked about digestive health in general, 50.9% rated their knowledge as “moderate,” 28.6% said “good,” and only 2.7% said “very good.” 60.7% said they occasionally seek out information about rare medical conditions, while 16.1% said they rarely or never do. 66.1% said raising awareness about SBS is “very important,” and another 23.2% said it’s “somewhat important.” Suggestions for spreading awareness included using social media, educational campaigns in schools, personal testimonials, hospital outreach, and even dedicated SBS awareness days. Conclusion: Despite the clinical severity of SBS management, current research highlights a knowledge deficiency among the general population. Misconceptions about treatment effectiveness underline the need for targeted educational interventions. AI-assisted tools were used in preparing this abstract.