Knee osteoarthritis understanding and misconceptions among university students in the Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia
Moaath A. Alamir, Abdulaziz B. Aljanoubi, Abdulaziz T. Hejazi, Nuha M. Almani, Mohammed A. Alhashrani, Ghala S. Alshatwi, Abdulrahman F. Aloufi, Abdullah Z. Alshalan, Abdulrahman Almahmoud, Abdulrahman F. Alotaibi
A
BSTRACT
Background and Objective:
Misconceptions surrounding knee osteoarthritis can influence symptom recognition, preventive behaviors, and engagement with care. Although osteoarthritis is commonly associated with older age, limited evidence describes how young, nonclinical populations understand knee osteoarthritis and its risk factors. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge and misconceptions related to knee osteoarthritis among university students in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 429 undergraduate and postgraduate university students enrolled in public and private universities in the Riyadh region. Data were collected using a validated, self-administered questionnaire assessing knee osteoarthritis knowledge across five domains: risk factors, symptoms, complications, prevention, and treatment. Knowledge scores were summarized descriptively and examined across participant characteristics. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with knowledge scores.
Results:
Overall knowledge of knee osteoarthritis was predominantly poor to moderate, with 48% of participants classified as having poor knowledge. Knowledge levels were highest in prevention and treatment domains, while understanding of symptoms, risk factors, and functional consequences was limited. Prior awareness of knee osteoarthritis and female gender were independently associated with higher knowledge scores across multiple domains. In contrast, participants reporting a prior diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis demonstrated lower knowledge in prevention, treatment, and overall knowledge domains.
Conclusion:
Marked gaps in foundational knee osteoarthritis knowledge persist among university students, indicating missed opportunities for early musculoskeletal health education before the onset of chronic knee symptoms.