Knowledge, Perception, and Attitude of Nursing Students towards Peptic Ulcer Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study in Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) remains a significant public health burden in Nigeria, yet knowledge gaps and misconceptions about its etiology and management persist among nursing students who will constitute frontline healthcare providers. The study assessed the knowledge, perception, and attitude of nursing students towards PUD at the College of Nursing Sciences, EKSUTH, Ado Ekiti, and examined the influence of selected socio-demographic variables. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. A convenience sample of 144 nursing students was selected using Taro Yamane's formula from ND 2 and HND 1 levels. Data were collected using an adapted, validated questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 27. Chi-square tests were conducted at p < 0.05 significance level. The majority of respondents were female (78.5%) and aged 21–25 years (47.2%). Overall, 67.4% demonstrated good knowledge of PUD, with 74.3% correctly identifying Helicobacter pylori as the primary cause and 93.1% recognizing antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors as first-line treatment. Good perception was recorded in 57.6% of respondents. Preventive attitudes were largely positive, with 93.0% avoiding unnecessary over-the-counter analgesic use. Age was significantly associated with PUD perception (χ² = 10.064, p = 0.018), while academic level showed no significant relationship with knowledge (χ² = 3.352, p = 0.670). Nursing students demonstrated relatively good knowledge and positive attitudes towards PUD; however, persistent misconceptions regarding dietary and stress-related causation, as well as cultural influences on perception, underscore the need for evidence-based, culturally sensitive curriculum integration and expanded clinical gastroenterology exposure.