Introduction

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-lasting disease of the central nervous system (CNS).1 2 It is considered to be an autoimmune disorder characterized by CNS inflammation, demyelination, axonal injury, and axonal loss, yet the exact antigen of the immunological response is unclear.3 It is a progressive disease that affects individuals, leading to lifelong disabilities and negatively influencing productivity and quality of life.4

The exact cause of the disease is unknown. However, the epidemiological data shows that both environmental and genetic factors play a vital role in the progress of MS; the prevalence of MS is not evenly distributed across the globe5 6 7 Therefore, MS treatments are divided into two categories: drugs that control the disease progress and the other medications to manage the clinical symptoms.8

The prevalence of MS has increased globally in recent years, according to the Atlas of MS by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008. The approximate prevalence of MS worldwide is 30 per 100,000, and the number of diagnosed cases in the same year is 2.1 million.9 In 2013, the global median prevalence increased to 33 per 100,000. The number of diagnosed cases increased to 2.3 million cases.10

Regarding the risk factor for the disease, a case-control study done in Saudi Arabia (SA) showed that sun exposure and healthy eating were associated with decreased risk of the disease, while eating fast food increased the risk of the disease.11 Moreover, the increased recurrence risk within families indicates a role in the genetic predisposition of MS.12

A study in 2016 among 715 individuals from Taif city, SA, reported poor knowledge regarding MS in 74% of the cohort; 26% of the participants had adequate knowledge.13 Another study in SA's capital city not only revealed poor knowledge regarding the nature of the disease but also reported that the commonly used source of information was learning from people inside their circle.1 In Turkey, a study revealed that knowledge regarding MS was favorable among the patients themselves and their relatives, but there was poor understanding of the disease among the community.14

However, several studies were published concerning a specific population. In 2017, a study was done to assess the knowledge of Iranian pregnant women; the knowledge that they possessed regarding MS was moderate.15 MS patients in SA have less knowledge of both the types and treatment of the disease; however, they possess more knowledge about the pathophysiology of the disease. 16

Despite increasing research and clinical attention, MS is a major health issue due to a lack of knowledge and understanding regarding the nature of the disease. There is no effective curable management of patients with MS; knowledge and awareness are important and can decrease the uncertainty and fill the gap between the patient and the public. MS is more common in the western region of SA, and we thus aimed to evaluate and assess Jeddah resident's knowledge regarding the different aspects of MS.17

Methodology

Results

We received 516 responses that met our inclusion criteria, but only 468 responses were included in the final analysis after removing 48 participants due to missing data. There were 121 (25.9%) males and 347 (74.1%) females. The mean age was 35.73 ± 14.71 years. Nearly half of the sample were married (50%), and 14 (3%) of the participants were diagnosed with MS. The average score on the MSKQ was 7.42 standard deviation (SD) ± 4.568. The minimum score was 1 (7.3%), and the maximum score was 19 (0.4%) out of 25.

We found a marked increase in the average knowledge score in MS diagnosed group compared with the public community, with a mean of 13.92 SD ± 3.33 and p value > 0.001 (Table 1).

Regarding the MSKQ, we divided the answers into three groups according to the score to make it easier for comparison. The first category included the people who scored less than 50%. There were 385 (82.3%) such participants. The second category included people who scored between 50% and less than 70%; they were 76 (16.2%). The last group comprised 7 (1.5%) participants who had scored 70% and above. The most correctly answered questions were Q1 and Q6. Q3, Q16, and Q19 were least likely to be correctly answered.

Each item of the questionnaire was given a label with the concept of the question and arranged, according to the aim of the question. Regarding the nature of the disease, most people 355 (75.9%) report that MS is a disease affecting the CNS, while 182 (38.9%) of the total participants recognize that the CNS is composed of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Only 103 (22.0%) knew that MS is not associated with decrease in lifespan, the majority of respondents (n = 417; 89.1%) knew that MS is not contagious, and 173 (37.0%) answered that the disease affects the immune system. Here, 132 (28.2%) responded that MS injures both the axon and the myelin, and 163 (34.8%) knew that myelin facilitates and speeds up the transition of the nerve impulse.

When we asked about the prevalence and predisposing factors, only 23 (4.9%) recognized the prevalence of the disease in SA; 178 (38.0%) knew the most affected age, while 71 (15.2%) correctly answered that women are at higher risk of getting MS. Furthermore, 99 (21.2%) agreed that being pregnant does not affect MS.

In terms of causation, 193 (51.5%) knew that infection and genetic factors seem to be the most crucial cause, but the majority of participants, 240 (51.3%) did not know the actual cause of the disease. In addition, 97 (20.7%) of the total participants knew that MS does not transmit from parents to their children, while 131 (28.0%) believed that it is possible. The fact that being a relative to a MS patient increases the risk by 5% relative to the general population was known by 82 (17.5%) of the participants.

Considering diagnostic methods and procedures, 83 (17.7%) knew that there is no specific test that can diagnose the disease accurately. Only 33 (7.1%) knew that intravenous injection with gadolinium reveals new lesions, and 230 (45.5%) confirmed that MRI is a common method to diagnose MS; 104 (22.2%) believed that MRI reveals both old and recent lesions. As many as 199 (42.5%) were aware that repeated MRI leads to better disease monitoring, and 125 (26.9%) knew that definite MS diagnosis requires a repetition of MRI. With regard to lumber puncture, 150 (32.1%) recognized the lumbar puncture sample to show an immunological reaction, while 313 (66.9%) do not know. In terms of the diagnosis, 105 (22.4%) believed that lumbar puncture is an excellent way to follow the progression of the disease when applied at different occasions, but only 24 (5.1%) agreed that it is the wrong way to follow the condition.

Regarding the types and treatment, 112 (23.9) knew that “relapsing-remitting” MS is described as repeated attacks at more or less frequent intervals. Of the total participants, 105 (22.4%) answered that benign MS is characterized by minimal deterioration in function 15 to 20 years after the disease. A total of 191 (40.8%) stated that there is no cure for MS. In comparison, 46 (9.8%) believed that there is a cure for MS. Disease-modifying drugs are effective in “relapsing-remitting,” but only 19 (4.1%) knew that, and the majority (n = 341; 72.9%) did not know the answer (Table 2).

Discussion

The average MSKQ score among all the participants was 7.42 ± 4.57 out of the 25 questions, which is below the average. This result shows an extremely low level of knowledge in relation to MS among the subjects, which is shocking since the western region has the highest cases of MS in SA. The low knowledge level can be explained by the fact that the signs of MS are usually invisible and thus many people may not understand the disease. Some cultural beliefs can cause MS patients to hide their illness from others as they feel isolated; thus, fewer people know about the disease. Our result is comparable with other local studies done in Riyadh and Taif, assessing the awareness toward MS among the public, which also shows that the general knowledge is poor.1 13 Although the two studies used different assessment tools from ours, the results were similar. The similarities between those studies are based on the study population, as the participants have similar sociocultural factors.

We found that people who were diagnosed with MS have a higher mean score compared with healthy individuals. Knowing that MS patients have higher knowledge than the public is a good indicator of how they understand their illness which leads to better prognosis of the disease. The average score for people with MS in our study is very close to other local and French studies that assess MS knowledge among MS patients.16 20 The similarities between the studies are because patients usually have the same basic information about the disease and receive their knowledge from their doctors. Therefore, they will have similar scores on the questionnaires.

We also found that there is no significant relation in knowledge between gender and age. However, as expected, there is a significant relationship between educational level and knowledge score. This shows that there is no specific distribution of the knowledge level among age group or gender; therefore, when conducting an educational campaign, one should assess the entire population from both genders and across all age groups. These results are compatible with a local study in Taif.13 Taif is also in the western region as Jeddah, and therefore people there have similar backgrounds and can have similar information regarding the disease.

Most subjects have poor knowledge regarding the etiology, genetics, and treatment of MS, which is a sign of concern. However, most participants possess adequate knowledge of the disease basics in terms of the organ that is affected, and the fact that it is not contagious. This insight can direct educational efforts. Our results are similar to a Saudi study done to evaluate MS patient knowledge.16 Although our study assessed MS knowledge among the public, it is still similar to a study that assessed MS patient knowledge. This shows that the cause, genetics, and treatment of the disease are usually neglected topics and require more outreach among both the general public and patients.

Public knowledge about the disease is not only important for the early detection of the disease but also helps increase quality of life for patients. With poor knowledge, it is difficult to treat and communicate with patients which, in turn, can negatively affect their mental and physical health. We need further education about the disease to support people with MS and reduce the burden of the disease.17

Conclusion

In this study, we found that the mean knowledge score was below the average, which implies very poor knowledge among the community. People are still unfamiliar with the disease, although the Western region has the highest cases of MS in the country. Patients with MS face mental, financial, and physical challenges throughout their lives. Therefore, the community needs to have a high knowledge level to help remove the stigma about their disease and improve their quality of life. Thus, increasing public knowledge in relation to the disease is essential. This can be done by conducting educational programs and campaigns through various media.