Work

Community Awareness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Preferences for Video-based Tele-education among Women in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 10-16% of Saudi women of reproductive age. Limited awareness and a lack of evidence-based information contribute to delayed diagnosis. Understanding regional health literacy and preferred educational strategies is essential for improving awareness and promoting early diagnosis.Objective: To assess awareness and knowledge of PCOS, examine the relationship between sociodemographic factors and PCOS knowledge, and identify preferred methods for delivering PCOS-related health information.Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Using convenience and snowball sampling, 335 women completed a self-administered Arabic questionnaire assessing sociodemographic data, PCOS awareness, knowledge (score range 0–26), and educational preferences. Descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for analysis, with epsilon-squared (ε²) used to estimate effect sizes.Results: Overall PCOS awareness was 83.3% (n=279), with a mean knowledge score of 13.1±5.02. Age (χ²=24.9, P-value<0.001, ε²=0.0746) and education level (χ²=8.03, P-value =0.045, ε²=0.0240) were significantly associated with knowledge scores, with younger women (18-24 years) achieving higher scores. Social media/internet (38.8%) was the most common information source, followed by family/friends (26.3%) and healthcare providers (21.2%). Video-based internet education was preferred by 57.9% of participants, and 60.3% rated it as highly effective. Traditional lectures and printed materials were less favored.Conclusion: Older and less educated women demonstrated lower PCOS awareness. The strong preference for video-based education highlights the potential value of culturally tailored tele-education programs in improving PCOS knowledge, encourage earlier diagnosis, and support reproductive health initiatives.

Source: Al- Anbar Medical Journal

DOI: 10.33091/amj.2026.167888.2544