An investigation into the level of awareness concerning rotator cuff disorders and adhesive capsulitis in southern region, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Rotator cuff syndrome is the most common cause of shoulder pain in the general population, affecting somewhere between 5% and 10% of individuals under the age of 20 and over 60% of patients over the age of 80. Globally, millions of individuals are impacted by the prevalence of rotator cuff syndrome and its associated diseases. We aimed at assessing the public awareness of rotator cuff syndrome and frozen shoulder as one of its severe complications in the general population of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted on 1228 Saudi participants, using a questionnaire developed by the study authors. A total of 1228 were surveyed; 59.0% were male. The analysis showed that 29.2% of the study population were familiar with rotator cuff syndrome and 20.1% of the respondents knew someone with the condition. The overall awareness of rotator cuff syndrome and frozen shoulder was poor. The level of awareness was associated with younger age [<i>F</i> (1224) =16.76, <i>P</i> = .000] lower economic status [F (1161) =2.71, <i>P</i> = .04] region of residence [<i>t</i> (1162) =3.37, <i>P</i> = .01] knowing a relative with the condition [<i>t</i> (1219) =4.92, <i>P</i> = .000], <i>and the source of information</i> [<i>t</i> (1219) =4.92, <i>P</i> = .000]. This preliminary study revealed an overall lack of awareness of rotator cuff syndrome and frozen shoulder in the general population of Saudi Arabia. The awareness level was associated with the age of the respondents, income, region of residence, knowing someone with rotator cuff injury, and source of information about the condition. Further research is warranted to replicate our findings.