# Emergency management in primary health care clinics in the Northern region of Saudi Arabia: cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study evaluates emergency management in primary health care clinics in Saudi Arabia's Northern region, finding gaps in training and equipment.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific gaps in emergency preparedness and highlights determinants of preparedness in PHC clinics in Saudi Arabia.

## Key findings

- Essential equipment like AEDs and nebulizers are available, but antidotes for common poisons are notably limited.
- Many healthcare providers lack advanced training (ACLS, PALS), and 'lack of staff training or experience' is a major challenge.
- Governmental clinic status and presence of paramedics are significant determinants of emergency preparedness.

## Abstract

Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics are vital for initial medical emergency management. This study aimed to assess emergency management in PHC clinics in the Northern region of Saudi Arabia by evaluating the availability and utilization of essential equipment, healthcare providers’ training and experience, perceived challenges, and patient referral patterns during emergencies.

This cross-sectional study utilized a structured questionnaire to collect data from 40 healthcare professionals conveniently sampled from Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics in the Northern region of Saudi Arabia. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, alongside bivariate (Chi-squared) and multivariable (binary logistic regression) inferential tests to examine determinants of preparedness.

The study found that while essential equipment like AEDs and nebulizers were available in many clinics, the availability of certain critical items, such as antidotes for common poisons, was notably limited. A significant proportion of healthcare providers had received BLS training, but the prevalence of advanced training (ACLS, PALS) was lower, with “lack of staff training or experience” being the most significant challenge. High patient referral rates were primarily due to the severity of conditions, need for advanced procedures, and lack of on-site equipment. Crucially, inferential analyses revealed that governmental clinic status and the presence of paramedics were significant independent determinants of adequate emergency preparedness.

This study highlights significant gaps in advanced training and specialized equipment, underscoring an urgent need for targeted policy and procedural interventions within PHC clinics in the Northern region of Saudi Arabia.