Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge of autoimmune diseases (AIDS) among the population in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 403 participants, including questions focused on sociodemographic, awareness level (classified as limited or good), and information sources. The data were collected through an online questionnaire that was circulated via multiple social media platforms.
Results: A total of 403 participants participated in the study. The overall awareness was moderate to low (48.9%), with nearly half of the participants demonstrating limited knowledge (51.1%). The regression model explained 20.5% of variance (R² = 0.205; p < 0.001). Higher awareness was associated with female sex (p-value= 0.038) and knowing someone with AIDS (p < 0.001), while older age groups (≥30 years) and non-Saudi
nationality showed lower awareness (all p ≤ 0.011). Relying on friends as a primary information source correlated with lower awareness (p-value =0.003).
Conclusion: The level of awareness of autoimmune disorders in Al-Ahsa was moderate to low. The most frequent source of information was physicians. Future studies should employ probability-based sampling methods, validated multidimensional tools, and adopt longitudinal designs to assess the effectiveness of tailored interventions and enhance population-specific communication strategies.

Key words: Evaluation, community awareness, autoimmune disorders, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.