Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Self-ear cleaning among the General Population in KSA

Abstract

Introduction: Cerumen or ear wax is a normal secretion from sebaceous and ceruminous glands found in the external auditory canal with an antimicrobial effect. Self-ear cleaning practice is reported among different populations with different tools that may be harmful to the ear. Aim: The current study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of self-ear cleaning among the general population in KSA. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey based on an online structured questionnaire distributed over Saudi Arabia’s different regions was conducted during the period from……. to … . The final questionnaire was uploaded online using social media platforms till no more responses were added. The first section concerns demographic characteristics such as gender, age, education, and income. The second section is continuing questions about self-ear cleaning and awareness. The third covered data about self-ear cleaning practices and complications. Results: A total of 503 eligible participants completed the study questionnaire, 210 (41.7%) from the western region, 147 (29.2%) from the central region, 78 (15.5%) from the southern region, and others from other regions. Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to about 60 years with a mean age of 27.5 ± 12.9 years old. A total of 304 (60.4%) participants were females. A total of 324 (64.4%) of the participants had an overall good knowledge and perception of self-ear cleaning. Exactly 420 (83.5%) practice self-ear cleaning, and most of them (95.5%) do it for both ears; ear sticks were the most commonly used tools (61.9%) followed by tissues (28.8%). Conclusion: The study has shown that the public is highly aware of the risks, methods, and tools used in self-ear cleaning. More than three-quarters of people surveyed reported using ear sticks to clean their ears, and the majority of them experienced no negative symptoms or complications after cleaning. Keywords Self-ear cleaning, practice, knowledge, awareness, prevalence, attitude, complications, Saudi Arabia.