Objective: To assess the general population's knowledge regarding the utility and availability of tools to diagnosis endometriosis, with a focus on ultrasound.
Design: An international cross-sectional online survey study was performed between August and October 2019.
Setting and population: 5301 respondents, representing 73 countries.
Methods: In all, 23 questions survey focused on knowledge of endometriosis diagnosis distributed globally via patient- and community-endometriosis groups using social media.
Main outcomes and measures: Descriptive data of the knowledge of diagnostic tools for diagnosing endometriosis, including details about diagnosis using ultrasound.
Results: In all, 84.0% of respondents had been previously diagnosed with endometriosis, 71.5% of whom had been diagnosed at the time of surgery. Ultrasound and MRI were the methods of diagnosis in 6.5% and 1.8%, respectively. A total of 91.8%, 28.8% and 16.6% of respondents believed surgery, ultrasound and MRI could diagnose endometriosis, respectively (more than one answer allowed). In those diagnosed by surgery, 21.7% knew about ultrasound as a diagnosis method, whereas in those diagnosed non-surgically, 51.5% knew (P < 0.001). In all, 14.7%, 31.1% and 18.2% stated superficial, ovarian and deep endometriosis could be diagnosed with ultrasound (32.9% stated they did not know which phenotypes of endometriosis could be diagnosed). Lastly, 58.4% of respondents do not believe they could access an advanced ultrasound in their region.
Conclusions: There is a limited appreciation for the role of non-surgical diagnostic tests for endometriosis among lay respondents to this survey.
Tweetable abstract: International survey shows limited awareness of lay respondents about non-surgical endometriosis diagnostic tools.
Keywords: Awareness; community involvement; diagnosis; endometriosis; magnetic resonance imaging; needs assessment; patient survey; pelvic pain; ultrasound.
© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.