Abstract
Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint disorder affecting people globally, including in the UAE, where urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, and dietary habits have increased its occurrence. This study examines public awareness of OA and preventive measures in the UAE, aiming to identify knowledge gaps and emphasize the need for educational interventions to promote healthier choices and OA prevention. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with a self-administered online questionnaire distributed widely across internet platforms. The survey collected demographic information, factors influencing OA prevention knowledge, and participants' awareness of OA prevention and associated risk factors. A total of 394 UAE residents participated. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 29 (Released 2023; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results Among the 394 participants, 45.4% were aged 18-29, with nearly equal gender representation (51.3% male, 48.7% female). Most held undergraduate degrees (57.6%), and most (57.4%) were Arab non-Emiratis. Regarding OA awareness, 44.2% had low knowledge levels, while 21.8% showed high awareness. Nearly all respondents (95.7%) identified OA as joint-related, and 73.6% recognized weight management as preventive, though only 67% knew OA could affect multiple joints. Common misconceptions included beliefs that OA equally affects genders (27.9%) and that it's caused by cold, damp weather (22.8%). Awareness of treatments like physiotherapy was moderate (66.8%), yet knowledge of advanced options like injections was low (38.8%). Significant correlations were found between OA awareness and factors like age, ethnicity, education, employment, and income. Conclusion Limited public awareness of OA and preventive measures exists in the UAE, underscoring the need for targeted public health education to address misconceptions and improve understanding.