Women’s awareness and knowledge of lipedema in Turkey: Findings from a nationwide online survey

ObjectivesThere is a deficiency in awareness and knowledge of lipedema disease among the general public and healthcare professionals. This situation may lead patients to waste time on getting the correct diagnosis and treatment. Currently, information regarding women's awareness and knowledge level of lipedema in Turkey is limited. This study aims to examine women's awareness, knowledge level, and desire for information concerning lipedema in Turkey.MethodsA total of 502 volunteer women participated in this online cross-sectional survey study. The survey, constructed by the authors of the study with the assistance of guidelines, systematic reviews, and current literature, consisted of sections aimed at determining demographic data, lipedema awareness, knowledge level, lipedema symptoms and suspicion, as well as individuals' health behavior and desire for information. The primary outcome of the study was lipedema awareness, which was defined by having previously heard the term lipedema.ResultsDespite 76.1% of participants reporting awareness of lipedema, the average knowledge score about the condition was a low-to-moderate level of knowledge. The vast majority of participants (71.3%) indicated that they were willing to learn more about lipedema, and their preferred source of information was healthcare professionals (80.3%). Yet, only 19 participants (3.8%) think that lipedema is sufficiently regarded within the healthcare system.ConclusionThis study reveals that, despite relatively high awareness of lipedema among women in Turkey, the level of knowledge remains limited. The strong willingness to receive further knowledge and the preference for healthcare professionals as the principal source of information garner attention. However, the low confidence in the recognition of lipedema within the healthcare system may suggest that healthcare professionals have insufficient knowledge or do not prioritize this issue. Improving awareness and knowledge of lipedema among the public and healthcare professionals might facilitate early identification and minimize treatment delays.