Awareness and Practice of Najran University Students Towards Common Problems Related to Ear, Nose, and Throat

Abstract

OBJECTIVE  The objective of this study was to evaluate the awareness and practice of Najran University students toward common problems related to the ear, nose, and throat. METHODS  A cross-sectional study was utilized in this research, employing data from a sample of 429 students at Najran University. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and ensured anonymity. The questionnaire used in this study had been previously validated. RESULTS  The sample for the current study primarily consisted of students aged more than 20 years (84.1%; n = 361), with a predominance of females (69.0%; n = 296). The majority of them were in health colleges (45.2%; n=194). The study results show that 37.8% (n = 162) had a good knowledge level, while 62.2% (n = 267) had poor knowledge about problems related to ENT. The vast majority, 87.2% (n = 374), believed that going to the hospital was the appropriate action to take in cases of acute ENT problems. The results established a statistically significant association between age, gender, health college, college, and department with p-values <0.005 (0.002*, 0.001*, 0.003*, and 0.005*), respectively, and the level of knowledge about problems related to ENT. There was no statistically significant association between nationality, clinical history of the participants, and the level of knowledge about problems related to ENT (p > 0.005). CONCLUSION  The study revealed that 37.8% of the participants had good knowledge about problems related to the ears, nose, and throat. The participants older than 20 years had better knowledge of common ENT problems than those younger than 20 years. Female participants showed a higher level of knowledge and awareness of problems related to the ears, nose, and throat. The study noted that the participants in Health College, the faculty of medicine, and the third academic level had good knowledge about problems related to ENT. The study established that going to the hospital was the appropriate action to be taken in case of a sudden ENT problem. Therefore, we recommend concerted efforts be made among the medical community to increase knowledge about common ENT problems.