Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Al Majmaah city residents in Saudi Arabia regarding emergency department (ED) utilization.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 400 participants from Al Majmaah city. An online questionnaire was administered to assess their knowledge of cold, urgent, and emergency symptoms, as well as their attitudes toward using ED services.
Results: The majority of participants were Saudi nationals (97.5%) and females (60.8%). The most frequently reported cold symptom was sore throat (51.5%), while the most recognized emergency symptom was chest pain or difficulty breathing (70.8%). More than half of the participants (52.5%) demonstrated a good level of knowledge regarding symptoms that necessitate an ED visit. Significant associations were observed between knowledge levels and variables such as gender, nationality, and employment status. Key barriers to PHCC utilization included limited working hours (39.8%) and concerns about the perceived quality of medical services (31%).
Conclusion: Gaps in knowledge regarding non-urgent symptoms and a strong preference for ED services were identified. Public health education initiatives and improved primary healthcare accessibility are needed to reduce unnecessary ED visits. Future research should explore the impact of educational programs on health care-seeking behavior.

Key words: Emergency care, urgent symptoms, awareness, public, Saudi Arabia