Knowledge and Awareness Level about the Association between Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Intake and Having Peptic Ulcers

NSAIDs, classified as non-opioid analgesics, are commonly prescribed medications known for their anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and pain-relieving properties. They are primarily used to alleviate fever and headaches. Studies have proven that the chronic and excessive use of NSAIDs is an important reason for gastrointestinal (GI) morbidity and mortality. To assess the level of knowledge and awareness of NSAID side effects and their association with peptic ulcers in the general population in Saudi Arabia. This is a cross-sectional study. The required sample size is 385 participants from different regions in Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire that was distributed among different social media platforms. The study included 230 participants, half of them males and half females. Most respondents, comprising 64.8%, fall within the 20-30 age bracket, followed by 14.3% in the 31-40 age group. A significant portion (37.0%) of the respondents have used NSAIDs before, with the majority reporting prior usage. 13.5% of the population surveyed have been diagnosed with PUD. Only 4.3% of participants had good knowledge scores of NSAIDs, 49.6% had poor knowledge, and 46.1% had moderate knowledge. As for PUD, only 9.1% of participants had good knowledge scores of peptic ulcer disease, 64.8% had moderate knowledge, and 26.1% had poor knowledge. There is a significant lack of knowledge and awareness about the association between NSAID intake and peptic ulcers among the general population of Saudi Arabia.