Public Awareness of Dupuytren's Contracture in Saudi Arabia

Introduction Dupuytren's contracture (DC) is a progressive and irreversible fibroproliferative disorder affecting the palmar fascia. Restricting hand mobility can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. This study aims to assess public awareness of DC in Saudi Arabia and identify factors associated with awareness levels to inform prevention and management strategies. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to October 2024 among Saudi nationals aged 18 years and older. Data were collected via a Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA) survey distributed on social media platforms. The questionnaire was validated using the Lawshe method, and knowledge of DC symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options was assessed. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics version 26.0 (IBM Corp. Released 2019. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Participants were categorized into "poor" and "good" knowledge groups based on a knowledge score. Factors associated with knowledge and awareness were analyzed, with p-values <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results A total of 713 participants were included in the study. Awareness of DC was generally low, with 231 participants (32.4%) having heard of the condition. Only 28.3% identified diabetes as a risk factor, and 28.5% recognized finger immobility as a symptom. Treatment awareness was limited; while 28.2% knew about surgical options, fewer participants knew of non-surgical treatments such as collagenase injections (24.5%) and physical therapy (29.4%). Factors significantly associated with better awareness included residing in the Central Region (p<0.001), being aged 36-45 years (p<0.001), holding postgraduate degrees (p<0.001), and having previous knowledge of DC (p=0.00001).  Conclusions Public knowledge and awareness of DC in Saudi Arabia were limited, with significant gaps in understanding its risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options. Educational campaigns are needed to improve awareness, particularly regarding the associations with diabetes, family history, and lifestyle factors such as tobacco and alcohol use. Increasing public knowledge of clinical symptoms and treatment options could lead to earlier diagnosis and better management. Further research is recommended to explore regional and population-level differences in awareness and to address limitations in understanding DC.