Awareness of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and complications among the Jordanians.

backgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease affecting synovial joints and extra-articular systems. Public recognition of early symptoms, complications, and misconceptions is important for timely help-seeking.

objectiveTo assess public awareness of RA articular symptoms and extra-articular complications in Jordan, identify misconceptions, evaluate intended healthcare-seeking behavior, determine predictors of awareness, and examine questionnaire psychometric performance.

methodsA cross-sectional online survey using nonprobability, quota-based recruitment through social media and messaging-application advertisements was conducted among adults across all Jordanian governorates between February 10 and March 24, 2026. The cleaned analytic sample included 2332 respondents. Awareness was assessed using six symptom items and five complication items, with scores transformed to a 0-100 scale. Adequate awareness was defined as correct identification of at least 6 of 11 awareness items. Misconception burden was calculated from four items. Multivariable regression identified predictors of awareness and appropriate intended action. Internal consistency and exploratory factor analysis evaluated questionnaire performance.

resultsThe mean total awareness score was 54.4 (SD, 33.5), and 56.3% of respondents had adequate awareness. Symptom awareness was slightly higher than complication awareness (mean scores, 56.9 vs. 51.4). Joint pain (73.1%), subcutaneous nodules (68.2%), and joint deformity (64.3%) were most recognized, whereas eye inflammation (29.7%), morning stiffness (45.5%), and small-joint swelling (46.5%) were less frequently identified. Misconceptions were common: 46.7% believed RA is not serious, 34.9% endorsed herbal cure beliefs, and 30.5% confused RA with osteoarthritis. Only 40.4% selected an appropriate intended action. Prior awareness of RA, knowing someone with RA, and higher education were the strongest predictors of awareness. Symptom and complication subscales showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha, 0.806 and 0.799), and exploratory factor analysis supported a dominant general awareness factor.

conclusionRA awareness in Jordan was moderate but uneven, with better recognition of visible joint manifestations than early inflammatory symptoms and extra-articular complications. Misconceptions were frequent, and appropriate intended help-seeking was reported by fewer than half of respondents. Interventions should frame RA as a serious, treatable systemic autoimmune disease and emphasize early warning signs, extra-articular complications, misconception correction, and medical consultation. Key Points • Overall, RA awareness was moderate, with a mean total awareness score of 54.4%, and 56.3% of participants meeting the predefined threshold for adequate awareness. • Participants recognized visible or general joint manifestations better than early inflammatory features; joint pain was most recognized, while morning stiffness and small-joint swelling were identified by fewer than half of respondents. • Awareness of extra-articular complications was incomplete, especially for eye inflammation and lung involvement, supporting the need to frame RA as a systemic autoimmune disease rather than only a joint disorder. • Misconceptions were frequent, and only 40.4% selected appropriate intended medical consultation, indicating a need for public health awareness campaigns targeting early symptoms, systemic complications, misconception correction, and timely referral.