Bridging the endometriosis knowledge gap to improve patient care: a cross-sectional study using pre and post educational interventions among females of reproductive age in Alqassim, Saudi Arabia

Background: Endometriosis affects women's health, causing pain, infertility, and a reduced quality of life. Awareness and comprehension of endometriosis are still inadequate, resulting in postponements in diagnosis and treatment. Bridging this information gap is essential for enabling women to identify symptoms promptly and pursue medical attention. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2024 in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia, involving 384 females aged 15-49 years. Data were collected through a self-administered electronic questionnaire. SPSS Version 27 was used for data analysis, employing descriptive statistics and paired t-tests to assess the intervention's impact and identify associations with factors. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Pre-intervention, 80.4% of participants reported regular menstrual cycles, and only 1.2% had regular healthcare access. Post-intervention, knowledge about endometriosis improved, including its origin (from 33.7% to 59.3%, p < 0.001) and symptoms (awareness increased from 49.7% to 72.8%, p < 0.001). The mean endometriosis knowledge score also increased from 2.71 (SD = 1.54) to 3.42 (SD = 1.78), with a mean difference of 0.71 (95% CI = 0.58, 0.84, p < 0.001), highlighting the intervention's positive impact. Conclusion: Our study found knowledge gaps regarding endometriosis among women of reproductive age. The findings demonstrate that an educational intervention can significantly enhance awareness of endometriosis, as evidenced by the improved knowledge scores post-intervention. However, the study also underscores challenges posed by inconsistent healthcare access, which may hinder timely diagnosis and management.