Saudi Women's Awareness of Uterine Artery Embolization as a Treatment Option for Fibroids

Objectives: In the current study, Saudi women's knowledge of uterine artery embolization (UAE) as a treatment option for fibroids was investigated. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2019, an anonymous online questionnaire was sent to women living in Hail and Riyadh via social media. The questionnaire contained 11 multiple-choice questions and was divided into two parts. The first part contained questions about demographic characteristics and one question about whether or not the respondent had a history of fibroids. The second part contained items pertaining to awareness about treatment options for fibroids and whether the respondent had heard of UAE or not. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software. Results: Of 845 questionnaires received back, 9.2% were from respondents who reported having a history of fibroids. Overall, 76.1% of the respondents had never heard of UAE. Awareness of treatment options for fibroids was significantly associated with level of education and involvement in a medical field (P < 0.05, Chi-square test). Of the respondents who had a history of fibroids, 71.7% had never heard of UAE and 8.9% had heard about it from an obstetrician or gynecologist. Only 6.4% were aware of all the treatment options for fibroids, and 28.2% thought that hysterectomy was the only treatment option. Conclusion: The current study highlights the need for a public awareness program about the treatment options for fibroids and greater effort on the part of treating doctors to offer UAE to appropriate candidates.

 

MissingLinkText

Publication History

Article published online:
26 April 2021