Background: Lumbar punctures (LPs) are known as a safe procedure, but many parents refuse to perform it on their children. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge of parents toward LPs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A pre-tested three-part online questionnaire that focused on knowledge, perception, and attitude was used on 1,276 adult residents of Riyadh, from November to December 2019. The data were analyzed and compared using the Chi-square test.
Result: Of 1,276 parents, 79.3% were mothers, whereas 20.7% were fathers. A larger part of the population (65.7%) had a bachelor's degree (secondary education). The analysis of the results revealed that 56.1% had a bad perception and 51.1% had poor knowledge on LP. Hence, 70.4% had a positive attitude. A significant association between educational level and knowledge and perception was found.
Conclusion: There is a direct association between a parent's knowledge of LPs and perception of LPs and level of education. The less they knew regarding LPs, the more negative they perceived the procedure, with gender and level of education affecting the outcome. Therefore, it is essential to aim the future research works and campaigns toward correcting the societal image of LPs.
Key words: Lumbar puncture, pediatric emergency, awareness, parents
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