Public Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Wound Care in the Saudi Western Region: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Introduction: Wound care knowledge deficits in general populations can lead to preventable complications and increased healthcare burden. This study assessed wound care Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAPs) among Saudi Western region residents, identifying demographic predictors and risk groups requiring targeted interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and data were collected between January 2023 and March 2023 using a validated questionnaire. Participants aged ≥18 years were recruited through convenience sampling ( n = 752, response rate 75.2%). Knowledge scores were calculated as percentages, with demographic associations analysed using Cohen’s d effect sizes. Multiple testing corrections employed a Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) adjustment. Risk stratification models were developed using area under the curve (AUC) receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: The mean knowledge score was 46.7% ± 15.2%, with only 7.8% achieving high knowledge (≥70%). Multiple significant gaps were observed, and they included tetanus injection awareness (20.5% correct) and antibiotic misconceptions (70.2% incorrect). Education level (Cohen’s d = 1.254, FDR P < 0.004) and occupation ( d = 1.308, FDR P < 0.008) were found to be significant predictors after correction. Risk stratification identified 7.2% high-risk participants (mainly primary education and military sector) with 2.89–4.55 times higher likelihood of poor knowledge. Protected groups (16.0%) included health sector employees demonstrating superior performance (AUC = 0.815–0.865). Conclusions: Based on this study’s findings, there are multiple knowledge deficits that exist across the population, with education and occupation as key determinants. The identification of high-risk groups (7.2%) requiring immediate intervention and moderate-risk groups (46.5%) needing targeted education provides an evidence-based framework for public health initiatives addressing wound care literacy.