KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF HERNIAS AND THEIR RISK FACTORS AMONG MEDICAL STAFF: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: This research aims to determine the Knowledge and Awareness of Hernias and Their Risk Factors Among Medical Staff.

Methods: This research will utilize a cross-sectional survey design to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of hernias and their associated risk factors among medical personnel. A cross-sectional technique is suitable for obtaining data at a certain moment, offering a picture of the existing levels of knowledge and awareness within the target population.

Results: The study included 380 participants. The study included 380 participants. The most frequent gender among them was female (n= 213, 56%) and male (n= 167, 43.9%).  The most frequent age among study participants was 36-40 years (n= 108, 28.4%), followed by less than 25 years (n= 106, 27.8%), then 31-35 years (n=92, 24.2%), more than 40 years (n=38, 10%), and 25-30 years (n=36, 9.4%).  The most frequent nationality among study participants was Saudi (n= 289, 76.1%) and non-Saudi (n= 91, 23.9%).  Professional level among study participants with most of them having nurse (n= 63, 16.6%) followed by consultant (n= 60, 15.8%), then specialist (n=51, 13.4%), general practitioner (n=49, 12.9%) and paramedic (n=48, 12.6%) the laboratory (n= 37, 9.7%), pharmacy (n=30,7.9%), resident (n=26, 6.8%), health allied professional (n=16,4.2%).  The most frequent experience among participants was 6-10 years (159, 41.8%), followed by more than 10 years (155, 40.8%), then 5 years or more (66, 17.4%). Participants were asked about common types of hernias. The most frequent inguinal hernia (n=108, 28.4%) flowed by umbilical hernia (n=72, 18.9%), femoral hernia (n=68, 17.9%), then hiatal hernia, and diaphragmatic (n=60, 15.8%), I don’t know (n=12, 3.2%).

Conclusion: The study highlights a critical overview of hernia awareness among medical personnel. Despite including a diverse group of professionals, findings indicate varying levels of knowledge regarding hernias and their associated risk factors. While most participants recognized common types, such as inguinal and umbilical hernias, awareness of less common types and complications was limited. This underscores the need for targeted educational programs to enhance understanding, particularly in recognizing risk factors like obesity, chronic coughing, and previous surgeries. Comprehensive training and regular updates on clinical practices can significantly improve early diagnosis and management, ultimately reducing complications associated with hernias.