Thyroid Cancer Knowledge and Awareness in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Thyroid cancer incidence has been increasing worldwide over the last few decades. It is the most common endocrine cancer and is most common among females. The study contributes to filling the knowledge gap among Saudi people regarding thyroid cancer. Objectives This research aims to investigate the level of thyroid cancer knowledge and awareness in Saudi Arabia, identify potential knowledge gaps, and develop targeted strategies for enhancing public awareness and education. Methods A cross-sectional, voluntary online survey was conducted from 1st August 2023 to 1st October 2023 among residents living in Saudi Arabia over 18 years of age. The participants included were 2030 respondents. Data analysis was performed using RStudio (R version 4.3.0; R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). Results Among the participants, the majority were female (60.4%). A total of 49.7% of the individuals reported having a moderate to high level of knowledge about thyroid cancer. While 63.9% knew the association of a lump in the neck to thyroid cancer, 82.6% affirmed to consult a doctor upon discovering a lump, 72.1% knew that regular monitoring of neck lumps is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment of precancerous conditions, 38.7% were aware of females being prone to thyroid cancer, and 59.2% were aware of the link between lifestyle and increased risk. Higher awareness scores were positively associated with female gender, previously having thyroid function tests done, and previously undergoing a US scan of the thyroid. Conclusion In this study, Saudi individuals are reported to lack some aspects of knowledge and perception of thyroid cancer. This study emphasizes filling the existing knowledge gap in thyroid cancer awareness in the Saudi population.