ObjectivesOsteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic degenerative joint disease linked to age, joint overuse abnormalities, and previous trauma. This research aims to assess the awareness levels, as well as the knowledge gap and misconceptions, about OA and its risk factors among the general population in Hail, Saudi Arabia. MethodsThe research adopted an observational cross-sectional method. Participants from Hail, Saudi Arabia, were recruited and then interviewed between 1 April and 15 July 2022. Adult males and females aged 18 or more were recruited via an online questionnaire using a Google Form link, inviting them to take part in a study concerning their knowledge of OA. The questionnaire was split into three sections. The first section covered demographic data, the second section contained general knowledge regarding OA, and the third section was made up of a 20-item quiz. The collected data was reviewed and then analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The statistical methods employed were all two-tailed, with an alpha level of 0.05 considered significant if the P value was less than, or equal to, 0.05. ResultsNine hundred six (906) eligible respondents completed the questionnaire. Participants ranged from 18 to 65 in age. More than 66% were female, while 77.5% had a university level of education or above. 13.6% had been diagnosed with OA. Overall, 40.9% of the study participants demonstrated a good knowledge level regarding OA, while 59.1% showed a poor knowledge level. ConclusionThe study revealed that the awareness and knowledge levels of the general population in Hail about OA are unsatisfactory. Efforts are recommended to increase the awareness and knowledge of the population through public education, which in turn can lead to a reduction in risk factors and improved early detection of the disease.

BackgroundUrolithiasis is the formation of calculi in the urinary system. It is a public health concern worldwide that can lead to serious long-term consequences. Age, gender, dietary habits, and physical activity levels are all factors that increase the risk of urolithiasis formation. Furthermore, the presence of comorbid medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are other major risk factors. Among the most prominent determinants that raise the likelihood of acquiring urolithiasis is exposure to high temperatures, especially in middle-aged men. Consequently, Saudi residents are two and a half times more prone than the global average to develop urolithiasis, especially those in the Kingdom's hottest regions. MethodologyThis cross-sectional study assessed the self-reported prevalence and non-nutritional risk factors of urolithiasis among the population of Hail, Saudi Arabia, through an electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 16 questions divided into three categories. Participants' permission was obtained before completing the questionnaire. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used to analyze the data. ResultsOf the 1150 participants with a mean age of 26.3 ± 12.8 years old, nearly half were males (50.9%). Urolithiasis was detected among 158 (13.7%) participants. The following factors showed significant relation with having urolithiasis: increased age, male gender, a low level of education, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperthyroidism. A family history of renal stones was also associated with double the risk of having urolithiasis. ConclusionThe results showed a high prevalence of urolithiasis in the Hail region, with many risk factors associated with it. It is important to support and promote awareness campaigns that address the critical risk factors of urolithiasis. Further studies should be conducted to arrive at a better understanding of the association between non-nutritional risk factors and developing urolithiasis.

Background: Urolithiasis is one of the most prevalent urinary tract disorders. It concerns stones that form in the urinary tract, usually in the kidneys or ureters. People with renal stone may experience dysuria, fever and flank pain. The risk factors of nephrolithiasis include hypertension, obesity and dehydration. Methodology: A cross sectional study conducted in 2022, over duration of four months. The study was undertaken to Evaluating the level of awareness about urolithiasis among the population of the Hail region in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire contains 27 questions. All data was analyzed using SPSS 22. Results: The study included a total of 1,150 participants, who ranged from the age of 18 to 68 years the mean age is 26.3 ± 12.8 years old. 585 (50.9%)participants were males and 1,100 (95.7%) were Saudi. 683 (59.4%) were found to have a low level of awareness regarding urolithiasis, 448 (39%) were moderately knowledgeable, while only 19 (1.7%) had a high awareness level.Increased age was associated with 12% more likelihood of higher awareness.Female participants also had 36% more likelihood of higher awareness than males. HCWs had doubled the probability of a good awareness level than did the other participants. Moreover, participants with a history of urolithiasis had nearly doubled the probability of a good awareness level than did those without such a history. Conclusion: Study participants have shown low awareness of urolithiasis, especially among non-medical professionals. There was a significant association between age, gender, history of urolithiasis and participants' level of awareness.