Examining the Awareness and Understanding Regarding Autoimmune Diseases among the Patients Attending Outpatient Department of Civil Hospital, Nurpur, Himachal Pradesh

Background: Autoimmune diseases are a group of complex and chronic disorders that arise from an abnormal immune response, where the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages healthy cells and tissues in the body. The objective of this study is to examine the awareness and understanding of autoimmune diseases among patients attending the outpatient department of Civil Hospital, Nurpur, Himachal Pradesh. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2023- April 2023 among patients attending civil hospital Nurpur, Himachal Pradesh and selected by convenience sampling technique. Data was collected through face-to-face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using epi info v7 software using appropriate statistical tests. Results: A total of 400 respondents including 234 (58.5%) male patients and 166 (41.5%) female patients were participated in the study. Among the total, 109 (27.25%) were from urban area and 291 (72.75%) were from rural area. In the present study 14.25% (57) participants had very good knowledge (16-20 marks) towards autoimmune diseases, 31.25% (125) had good knowledge (12-15 marks), 35% (140) had fair knowledge (8-11 marks) and 19.5% (78) having poor knowledge (<8 marks). Conclusion: The study highlights the specific areas of low awareness, including the familiarity with different autoimmune diseases, knowledge of symptoms and risk factors, awareness of diagnostic methods, and understanding of treatment options. Addressing these knowledge gaps is essential for early detection, timely diagnosis, and appropriate management of autoimmune diseases.