OMEGA-3 KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES AMONG ADULT PATIENTS ATTENDING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS IN TAIF CITY, KSA, 2018

Background: There are several benefits to eating omega-3 rich foods, including normal growth and development, healthier heart and brain, and lower cancer and mental problems. This study was conducted to estimate patients' knowledge and attitude levels attending primary care centers in Taif regarding omega-3 fatty acids. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional conducted in Taif city and included a sample of adult patients attending the primary health care centers belonging to the Ministry of health in Taif. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Results: A total of 400 participants were included in this study; more than half of them (51%) were males with a mean age (37.6 ± 11.9). The knowledge mean score was (34.1 ± 22.3), and most participants (66.5%) had poor knowledge about omega-3. The mean attitude score of (59.3 ± 24.5) towards diet (including omega-3) and health, and less than half of the participants (42%) have positive attitudes. There were significant associations between the knowledge mean score about omega-3 and age (P=0.000), gender (P=0.018), educational level (P=0.000), receiving health education about healthy diet from doctors (P=0.000), and hearing of Omega-3 foods (P=0.000). Conclusions: We found low knowledge levels and generally negative attitudes towards an omega-3 and healthy diet. Females, highly educated participants, and patients who received health education from physicians were more knowledgeable and had positive attitudes.

Keywords; Omega-3, fatty acids, knowledge and attitude, Saudi Arabia.