Public Awareness and Knowledge of Acute Appendicitis in Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia: A Community-based Study

Background: Appendicitis is the most common surgical cause of abdominal pain worldwide. Early diagnosis of appendicitis is critical to avoid complications that may be fatal. Appendicitis occurs commonly between the ages of 10 and 30 years. This study aims to assess the levels of awareness and knowledge about acute appendicitis amongst the public in the Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed a convenience sampling approach; a pilot study was conducted prior to distributing the questionnaire via social media. The three-section tool assessed sociodemographic, appendicitis knowledge and awareness. Data were analysed and descriptive statistics (frequencies/percentages) and Chi-square tests were utilised. Results: A total of 604 participants were included in this study. Four hundred and ten (67.9%) of the participants were male participants, 156 (25.8%) of the participants were 45–54 years old. Participants demonstrated strong awareness of appendicitis symptoms, treatment and complications. Critical knowledge gaps emerged in diagnostic imaging (42.1%), post-symptom dietary safety (25.7%) and preventability (24.2%). Older participants outperformed younger counterparts in understanding aetiology ( P < 0.001), complications ( P = 0.04) and post-operative recovery ( P = 0.005). Conversely, younger participants better identified the high-risk demographic ( P = 0.002). These findings highlight pronounced age-related disparities, with older groups excelling in pathophysiology and management, while younger individuals demonstrated superior epidemiologic awareness. Conclusion: Al-Baha residents demonstrated strong awareness of appendicitis symptoms, treatment and complications, but critical gaps persisted in diagnostic imaging, dietary safety and preventability. Targeted education is needed to address these gaps.