Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Otitis Media with Effusion: A Cross-sectional Study among the General Saudi Population

Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common cause of childhood conductive hearing loss. Population knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) affect timely recognition and management, but community awareness in Saudi Arabia is not well described. Methodology: We conducted a nationwide online cross-sectional survey of Saudi adults (≥18 years) in February–March 2025 using a structured questionnaire on sociodemographics, KAP. Data from 863 respondents were analyzed with descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression; P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Respondents were predominantly young (69.3% aged 18–25) and 52.0% female. Knowledge was mixed: 53.2% identified upper respiratory infection as a cause, whereas 60.5% endorsed antibiotic ear drops and 53.8% favored observation, indicating discordant beliefs about care. Digital sources (online videos/medical accounts) were the main information channel (67.3%), and 75.2% wanted targeted OME information. High intent to seek care was reported (91.9% would seek care; 94.6% would take a child to the hospital). Prior OME strongly predicted interest in information (odds ratio OR 3.17, P < 0.001); males were less likely to seek information (OR 0.63, P = 0.006) and treatment (OR 0.43, P = 0.001); unmarried status predicted lower treatment uptake (OR 0.33, P = 0.027). Conclusion: Awareness of OME is moderate but marred by key misconceptions – notably antibiotic use. The population’s reliance on digital media and strong interest in information support targeted online education; however, the findings are primarily generalizable to young, urban Saudi adults.