Awareness and knowledge of rotator cuff injury and its risk factor among the general population in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: The rotator cuff muscles (RCM) include the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. The most common cause of shoulder impairment is rotator cuff injury. Rotator cuff injury (RCI) causes shoulder weakness and pain, particularly during elevation and external rotation movements. Middle-sized tears, full-thickness tears, smoking, and advanced age are risk factors for rotator cuff tear progression. The primary goal of our study is to assess knowledge and awareness of RCI in the general population of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted Saudi Arabia between 2022 and 2023, involving 385 participants. The data was collected using a simple English and Arabic-language questionnaire. The data was analysed using a Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS,) version 28. Result: Among the studied subjects, 58.4% of the 461 participants were female, and 41.6% were between 20 and 30. Only 20.2% knew what RCI meant. Overall, 46% of respondents were considered to have good knowledge of rotator cuff injury, 27.8% had moderate knowledge, and 26.2% had poor knowledge. Female gender, prior diagnosis, and awareness of RCI were factors associated with increased knowledge. Conclusion: The general population's knowledge needs to be improved in some areas. Gender females with a prior history of RCI and who were aware of RCI meaning demonstrated a better understanding of RCI than the other groups. Further research is needed to determine the general public's level of knowledge about RCI.