Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices About Parkinson's Disease Among the General Population of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

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Background: Understanding how sociodemographic factors influence knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to Parkinson's disease (PD) is essential for developing targeted interventions. This study examines the associations between KAP components and variables such as gender, age, education, and marital status. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the general population from October 2024 to February 2025. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and KAP related to PD were collected using structured questionnaires. The analysis was done by SPSS version 28. Results: Male participants demonstrated higher mean knowledge scores (4.16 ± 0.7) compared to females (3.93 ± 0.7), with a significant difference (p = 0.01). Participants aged 50-59 years had the highest mean knowledge scores (4.53 ± 0.8), while those aged 21-29 years had the lowest (3.85 ± 0.6), with a significant difference (p = 0.01). High school-educated participants exhibited the highest mean knowledge scores (4.51 ± 0.7), whereas those without formal education had the lowest (3.89 ± 0.5), with a significant difference (p = 0.01). Regarding attitudes, participants aged 40-49 years scored highest (8.24 ± 1.5), and those over 60 years scored lowest (7.10 ± 1.1), with a significant difference (p = 0.03). Single participants had higher attitude scores (8.16 ± 1.3) than married ones (7.60 ± 1.6), with a significant difference (p = 0.01). In practice, males scored higher (4.16 ± 0.7) than females (3.93 ± 0.7), with a significant difference (p = 0.01). Participants aged 50-59 years had the highest practice scores (4.53 ± 0.8), and those aged 21-29 years had the lowest (3.85 ± 0.6), with a significant difference (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Sociodemographic factors significantly influence KAP related to PD. Tailored educational interventions, considering these variables, are crucial for enhancing PD awareness and management. Our study indicates that the general population has moderate knowledge regarding PD. Most participants have a positive attitude regarding helping and supporting people who are suffering from PD. Educational attainment emerged as a critical determinant, with those having a high school education showing the highest mean scores in both knowledge and practices, underscoring the role of education in health literacy and proactive health behaviors. Furthermore, marital status influenced attitudes toward PD, with single participants displaying more positive attitudes than their married counterparts.

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