Health Sciences Students' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Snoring: A Cross-Sectional Study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Snoring is a sound produced by the vibrations of upper airway soft tissues due to partial airway obstruction during sleep. It is often linked to sleep-disordered breathing and may suggest underlying conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea. As future healthcare professionals, health sciences students should possess adequate knowledge and appropriate attitudes regarding snoring and its clinical implications. This study aimed to assess health sciences students' knowledge and attitudes toward snoring.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 760 health sciences students from three universities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited using quota sampling and completed a validated, self-administered questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes regarding snoring. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests. Independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to compare mean scores between groups, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Likert-scale responses were coded from 1 to 5, and mean scores were calculated. Given the large sample size, Likert responses were treated as approximately continuous variables and analyzed using parametric tests.

Most participants reported that snoring disrupts sleep (75.5%) and is more common among males (73.3%). Female students demonstrated significantly greater agreement that snoring can worsen nasal symptoms (p = 0.005). Differences in knowledge and attitudes were observed across academic disciplines, with students from the anesthesia technology program demonstrating a stronger understanding of several snoring-related concepts.Across all disciplines, most participants disagreed with the statement that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) increases snoring (p < 0.001).

Health sciences students demonstrated varying levels of knowledge and attitudes toward snoring, with notable differences by gender and academic discipline. These findings highlighted the importance of incorporating targeted educational strategies within health sciences curricula to enhance awareness and support early recognition of snoring-related health conditions.