Public Awareness and Knowledge of Sleeve Gastrectomy in the Southwest Region of Saudi Arabia.

Background Obesity is a major global health concern, causing significant health dilemmas. Large groups of Saudi individuals are considered obese, with significant implications for medical practice. Bariatric surgery, including sleeve gastrectomy, is a crucial intervention for severe obesity, although it is associated with potential complications. This study aims to investigate the public knowledge about the indications and consequences of sleeve gastrectomy in the Southwest region of Saudi Arabia and assess their general awareness of sleeve gastrectomy. Methodology This descriptive, cross-sectional, online-based study included 347 individuals from the Southwest region of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via an online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results This study included 347 participants, with a majority being females (88.5%, n = 307) and Saudis (98.6%, n = 342). The most common age group was 21-25 years (34%, n = 118), followed by those over 40 years of age (26.5%, n = 92). Most participants resided in Al-Qunfudhah (66.3%, n = 230) and held a bachelor's degree (75.8%, n = 263). Nearly half were students (48.7%, n = 169), and 56.2% (n = 195) earned less than 5,000 per month. The prevalent weight range was 40-60 kg (46.1%, n = 160), and most participants' height was 150-160 cm (58.5%, n = 203). Overall, 61% (x̄ = 211.6) of the respondents had good knowledge about sleeve gastrectomy, with 70.3% (x̄ = 244) understanding its general aspects, 56.1% (x̄ = 194.5) knowing the indications, and 60.1% (x̄ = 208.7) aware of the complications. Conclusions The majority of residents of the Southwest region of Saudi Arabia have moderate levels of knowledge regarding sleeve gastrectomy. However, the study demonstrated substantial gaps in knowledge and awareness regarding sleeve gastrectomy, mainly about its indications and potential.