Almadhi Abdulmalk A, Alshammri Mohammad R, Altamimi Noora O, Hadal Shahd A, Al Madhi Abdulrahman A, Salahie Majdi S
Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU.
Cardiology, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU.
Cureus. 2021 Nov 29;13(11):e19997. doi: 10.7759/cureus.19997. eCollection 2021 Nov.
Objectives Rheumatic fever (RF) is an inflammatory disorder caused by group A streptococcal pharyngitis infections that can progress to rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Public awareness and knowledge of this condition are crucial for its prevention. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes regarding these disorders to identify the factors influencing the level of knowledge and to determine how to increase awareness and knowledge of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Methods An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to 1211 participants throughout Saudi Arabia using an online platform. The questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, levels of awareness, knowledge of rheumatic fever along with rheumatic heart disease, and attitudes toward these diseases. Results A total of 1121 participants met the criteria for the study and completed the questionnaire (77.5% female vs. 22.5% male). The most common age group was 18 to 30 years old (30.5%). The lack of knowledge was most common among the younger age group (≤ 40 years) and males. Knowledge of rheumatic fever was assessed as poor, fair, and good among 80.2%, 16.2%, and 3.6% of participants, respectively. A good knowledge level was more common among the older age group (> 40 years) and those who had four to seven children. Poor, fair, and good attitude levels were expressed by 41.7%, 32.6%, and 25.8% of participants, respectively. Poor attitudes toward rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease were more common among those living in the Central region. Conclusion While the attitudes toward rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease seem adequate, significant deficiencies in the knowledge and awareness of these disorders were observed in the study population. Insufficient knowledge was primarily seen among young male participants.
目的 风湿热（RF）是一种由A组链球菌性咽炎感染引起的炎症性疾病，可发展为风湿性心脏病（RHD）。公众对这种疾病的认识和了解对其预防至关重要。本研究旨在评估对这些疾病的认识和态度，以确定影响知识水平的因素，并确定如何提高对风湿热和风湿性心脏病 的认识和了解。方法 使用在线平台向沙特阿拉伯各地的1211名参与者发放自填式问卷，进行一项观察性横断面研究。该问卷收集了社会人口学特征、认识水平、对风湿热以及风湿性心脏病的了解情况，以及对这些疾病的态度等数据。结果 共有1121名参与者符合研究标准并完成了问卷（女性占77.5%，男性占22.5%）。最常见的年龄组是18至30岁（30.5%）。知识缺乏在较年轻年龄组（≤40岁）和男性中最为常见。分别有80.2%、16.2%和3.6%的参与者对风湿热的了解被评估为差、一般和良好。较高的知识水平在年龄较大的组（>40岁）和有四至七个孩子的人群中更为常见。分别有41.7%、32.6%和25.8%的参与者表达了差、一般和良好的态度水平。对风湿热和风湿性心脏病的负面态度在中部地区的人群中更为常见。结论 虽然对风湿热和风湿性心脏病的态度似乎尚可，但在研究人群中观察到对这些疾病的认识和了解存在显著不足。知识不足主要见于年轻男性参与者。
