KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS TOWARDS POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS AFTER APPENDECTOMY AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AND INTERNS IN TAIF UNIVERSITY, SAUDI ARABIA

Background: Acute appendicitis is still the most prevalent reason for acute abdominal pain requiring operative procedure. Laparoscopic procedures may have lower risk of complications compared to traditional methods. However, Knowledge and awareness of medical staff towards post-operative complications needs to be evaluated. Objective: To investigate knowledge and awareness towards postoperative complications after appendectomy among medical students and interns. Design and Setting: a multicenter, cross-sectional study in Taif University, Saudi Arabia, included an online self-developed questionnaire that was distributed via link to Google forms, to medical students and interns. Only participants, who filled the questionnaire, were included in the analysis. Statistical analysis: Data is represented using descriptive statistics of counts and valid percentages (for categorical variables), Mean, standard deviations (SD), minimum and maximum values (for numerical variables). Student t-test was used to compare between means in different groups at a level of significance p <= 0.05. Collected data will be analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: 224 participants completed the questionnaire. There was a significant difference in knowledge between males and females (P=0.05), where females had higher level of knowledge than males. Also, there was a significant difference in knowledge between students and interns (P=0.001). Additionally, there was a significant difference (p=0.009) in the awareness level between different age groups with highest score (3.66 +/- 1.12) recorded in the age group (21 to 30 years old). Moreover, there was a significant difference in total scores within different age groups (p=0.005). The age group (21 to 30 years old) showed the highest total scores(9.77 +/- 2.08). Conclusion: Level of Knowledge and awareness of interns and medical students needs to be improved. Further studies to evaluate knowledge and awareness in other regions in Saudi Arabia are needed.