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2026, Vol: 10, Issue: 4
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Original Article
Online Published: 23 May 2025
 


Awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia among residents of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Yaser B. Shahid, Sara A. Alharbi, Rafaa Y. Alsaadi, Saja F. Alzanbaqi, Hawraa F. Alsayrafi, Ghadi A. Alsaadi.


Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to explore the awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia (FM) among residents of the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: From January 2025 to June 2025, a cross-sectional study was conducted including residents of the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia, aged 18 years and older. The participants were selected from various community centers and public areas using a convenience sampling technique.
Results: The study surveyed 395 adults, mainly Saudi (n = 328, 83%), females (n = 218, 55.2%), married (n = 234, 59.2%), and employed (n = 210, 53.2%). FM awareness was moderate, with 189 participants (47.8%) having heard of it, primarily through the Internet (46.3%). However, only 113 (28.6%) knew the diagnostic criteria. Misconceptions were common, with only 76 (19.2%) correctly identifying FM as a non-inflammatory disease. Awareness correlations showed that knowing someone with FM significantly improved awareness (p-value = 0.001), and younger participants were more aware than older ones (p-value = 0.019).
Conclusion: This study revealed moderate awareness of FM among Makkah residents, with significant misconceptions about its nature. Awareness was higher in younger individuals and those with fibromyalgia, highlighting the need for targeted education efforts.

Key words: Awareness, fibromyalgia, misconceptions, residents, Saudi Arabia


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Shahid YB, Alharbi SA, Alsaadi RY, Alzanbaqi SF, Alsayrafi HF, Alsaadi GA. Awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia among residents of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC. 2025; 9(5): 1162-1168. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1745004258

Web Style

Shahid YB, Alharbi SA, Alsaadi RY, Alzanbaqi SF, Alsayrafi HF, Alsaadi GA. Awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia among residents of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=253351 [Access: October 14, 2025]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1745004258

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Shahid YB, Alharbi SA, Alsaadi RY, Alzanbaqi SF, Alsayrafi HF, Alsaadi GA. Awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia among residents of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC. 2025; 9(5): 1162-1168. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1745004258


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Shahid YB, Alharbi SA, Alsaadi RY, Alzanbaqi SF, Alsayrafi HF, Alsaadi GA. Awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia among residents of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC. (2025), [cited October 14, 2025]; 9(5): 1162-1168. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1745004258


Harvard Style

Shahid, Y. B., Alharbi, . S. A., Alsaadi, . R. Y., Alzanbaqi, . S. F., Alsayrafi, . H. F. & Alsaadi, . G. A. (2025) Awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia among residents of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC, 9 (5), 1162-1168. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1745004258


Turabian Style

Shahid, Yaser B., Sara A. Alharbi, Rafaa Y. Alsaadi, Saja F. Alzanbaqi, Hawraa F. Alsayrafi, and Ghadi A. Alsaadi. 2025. Awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia among residents of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (5), 1162-1168. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1745004258


Chicago Style

Shahid, Yaser B., Sara A. Alharbi, Rafaa Y. Alsaadi, Saja F. Alzanbaqi, Hawraa F. Alsayrafi, and Ghadi A. Alsaadi. "Awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia among residents of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9 (2025), 1162-1168. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1745004258


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Shahid, Yaser B., Sara A. Alharbi, Rafaa Y. Alsaadi, Saja F. Alzanbaqi, Hawraa F. Alsayrafi, and Ghadi A. Alsaadi. "Awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia among residents of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9.5 (2025), 1162-1168. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1745004258


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Shahid, Y. B., Alharbi, . S. A., Alsaadi, . R. Y., Alzanbaqi, . S. F., Alsayrafi, . H. F. & Alsaadi, . G. A. (2025) Awareness and misconceptions about fibromyalgia among residents of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (5), 1162-1168. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1745004258




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