Prevalence and Awareness of the General Population about Peptic Ulcer Disease in Hail, Saudi Arabia

A BSTRACT Background: Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) represents a significant global health concern requiring adequate public awareness for prevention and early management. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness about PUD among the general population in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2022 among 750 targeted citizens in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. The validated questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics and awareness regarding PUD risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and complications. Participants scoring ≥75% (16/20 points) were considered to have good knowledge about PUD. Chi-square test was applied to determine the association of knowledge and risk factors of PUD. Results: A total of 680 participants completed the survey, with 355 (52%) females and 325 (47.8%) males. The majority (60.7%) were aged 18–29 years, and 71.9% had college-level education. Most participants (87.6%) had no previous history of PUD, while 54.9% lacked background knowledge about the disease. Although 92.1% correctly identified PUD as a digestive disease, knowledge gaps existed regarding disease types (56% didn’t know), with only 35.1% correctly identifying the two main types. Stomach germs (37.5%) and spicy food consumption (33.7%) were commonly recognized as primary causes. Gender showed a significant association with PUD diagnosis ( P = 0.01), and educational level significantly influenced disease knowledge ( P = 0.020). Conclusion: Despite reasonable basic awareness, significant knowledge gaps exist regarding PUD among Hail residents, warranting targeted health education programs.