RESUMO
Background Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a common and often underdiagnosed condition, imposes a significant burden on individuals, particularly in middle-aged populations. This study aims to assess the awareness and prevalence of CTS among middle-aged residents in Riyadh, highlighting the crucial need for targeted educational initiatives to address knowledge gaps. Methodology A cross-sectional study design was employed to capture a snapshot of CTS awareness and prevalence among the middle-aged population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants aged 40-60 residing in Riyadh were included. A self-reported questionnaire gathered data on demographics, CTS diagnosis, and awareness levels regarding symptoms, risk factors, treatment, and the impact of CTS. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and Chi-squared tests. Results We collected 415 valid responses to the questionnaire. The demographic profile revealed a balanced gender distribution, with 48.4% (n=201) males and 51.6% (n=214) females, and a majority (66.5%; n=276) within the 40-50 age range. A substantial 87.2% (n=362) reported no prior CTS diagnosis. Neuroimaging studies were infrequently conducted at 15.9% (n=66). Participants exhibited significant knowledge gaps, notably in the awareness of CTS diagnosis 66.3% (n=275) uncertainty, symptoms 55.4% (n=230) lack of knowledge, and risk factors 54.7% (n=227) lack of awareness. The results indicated uncertainty regarding the relationship between CTS and diabetes 63.9% (n=265) and knowledge gaps on anesthesia methods for CTS operations 64.1% (n=294). The association between age and CTS diagnosis was significant (p-value 0.004), while awareness did not significantly vary with gender or age. Conclusion This study unveils a substantial lack of awareness about CTS among the middle-aged population in Riyadh, emphasizing the need for targeted educational interventions. The prevalence of CTS remains underreported, with a notable gap in understanding symptoms, risk factors, and available treatments; the findings underscore the vital importance of targeted educational programs designed to raise public awareness, bridge information gaps, and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their hand health.
RESUMO
Background Burn injury is a typical physical injury that occurs as a result of a thermal, electrical, or chemical stimulus. Burn injuries to the skin cause complicated issues, including scar marks, psychological impacts, and affect quality of life (QOL). The preferred treatment technique for burn scars is controversial, as attempts to control the contraction rate remain a challenge, often leading to a poor outcome. Thus, treating burn scar patients is one of the biggest challenges in reconstructive surgery. In this study, we aimed to assess the patients' perception of pain and QOL after conservative treatment for burn scars in Saudi Arabia. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study conducted on Saudi Arabian patients who underwent conservative treatment for their burn scars. Information was obtained using a self-reported questionnaire which was distributed online using Google Forms on several social media platforms. MS Excel was used for data entry, while SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. Results We collected 523 responses to our questionnaire. Among respondents, 70.2% were aged between 18-29 years and 62.1% were single. Most burns were on the upper limbs (74.2%), and 78% of burns were caused by a thermal stimulus (exposure to heat). In terms of emotional status, most respondents did not report significant emotional issues related to their burn scars with a mean emotional score of 12.5 out of 24. Overall, burn scars did not affect the respondents' ability to work or independence in performing daily work. Regarding the impact of the burns on the patients' appearance, 29.4% of respondents reported that their scars bothered them significantly, 64.2% reported that their appearance never bothered them, and 11.5% reported that they sometimes tried to forget how their appearance had been changed. Conclusions We found that conservative treatment of burn scars is effective in controlling the pain associated with the burns and can improve the patient's ability to perform work and other daily activities. However, it did not completely improve the psychological distress associated with scars. Further investigations are required to understand the impact of adherence to conservative treatment for burn scars on the psychological status of patients.
