Investigating the Knowledge and Awareness of Appendectomy and Its Complications Among Population of Makkah.

Background: Acute appendicitis is considered one of the most common causes of abdominal pain that affects both adults and children. Typically requires emergency surgical intervention to prevent complications such as perforation and peritonitis. Objectives: This study aimed to fill the research gap by assessing the level of awareness and knowledge of appendectomy by identifying knowledge gaps that may impact health outcomes and complications among adults in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving a random sample of 286 participants. Conducted from January to June 2025 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Using an online self-administered questionnaire assessing the demographics, personal medical history, awareness of appendicitis symptoms, understanding of surgical options and knowledge of postoperative complications. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29, with chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Results: About half of the participants (51.7%) have good overall knowledge, while 48.3% of the participants have poor knowledge. Females have significantly higher knowledge compared to males (55.1%) to 36% in males. The most common identifiable symptom was abdominal pain (93.7%), followed by nausea (65.7%) and vomiting (62.2%). About half (57.0%) of the participants recognized both surgical interventions for appendectomy, 22.0% only knew about laparoscopic surgery and 21% knew only the open surgery. Conclusion: Despite the good knowledge among the participants, there is still a substantial proportion who had a poor understanding, particularly among males and married individuals. These findings emphasize the need for a health education program to improve public awareness of acute appendicitis, its management and potential surgical outcomes.