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Original Article
Online Published: 06 Oct 2026
 


Public awareness and utilization of urgent care centers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on their role in reducing non-emergency ED visits

Hind Naif Alshammari, Maryam Salamah Alanazi, Mishari Lafi Alenezi, Sulaiman Fraih Alshammari, Mada Omar Alshammari, Shaden Saud Alshammari, Nawaf Fahhad Alharbi.


Abstract
Objective:
This study aimed to assess public awareness of urgent care centers (UCCs) in Hail, Saudi Arabia, and their role in reducing non-emergency cases in the emergency department (ED).
Methods:
A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among patients visiting King Khalid Hospital (KKH) in Hail, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the patients visiting KKH. The questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics, assessments of ED visit behavior, awareness of UCCs' services, and planned utilization of UCCs' services.
Results:
Among the 389 visiting patients, 69.4% were women, and 47.3% were aged 18 to 30 years. Further, 40.6% believed that UCCs can manage non-emergency cases effectively. Only 17.9% of patients were aware of UCCs' services, but 77.9% said they would use them if they had more information. Awareness and use of UCCs were associated with having basic knowledge and believing in managing non-emergency cases well. The main reason people did not use UCCs was that they did not know where they were located.
Conclusion:
Patients showed a lack of awareness of UCC services. However, most of them might switch to UCCs if they receive the appropriate information. Hence, awareness of UCCs is vital to increase their utilization. The findings suggested that focused outreach and education on UCC services and proper use can help redirect non-emergency cases from emergency departments.

Key words: Urgent care centers, emergency, awareness, utilization, Hail City, Saudi Arabia


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alshammari HN, Alanazi MS, Alenezi ML, Alshammari SF, Alshammari MO, Alshammari SS, Alharbi NF. Public awareness and utilization of urgent care centers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on their role in reducing non-emergency ED visits. IJMDC. Online First: 06 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1781189593

Web Style

Alshammari HN, Alanazi MS, Alenezi ML, Alshammari SF, Alshammari MO, Alshammari SS, Alharbi NF. Public awareness and utilization of urgent care centers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on their role in reducing non-emergency ED visits. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=324081 [Access: October 07, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1781189593

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alshammari HN, Alanazi MS, Alenezi ML, Alshammari SF, Alshammari MO, Alshammari SS, Alharbi NF. Public awareness and utilization of urgent care centers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on their role in reducing non-emergency ED visits. IJMDC. Online First: 06 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1781189593


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alshammari HN, Alanazi MS, Alenezi ML, Alshammari SF, Alshammari MO, Alshammari SS, Alharbi NF. Public awareness and utilization of urgent care centers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on their role in reducing non-emergency ED visits. IJMDC, [cited October 07, 2026]; Online First: 06 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1781189593


Harvard Style

Alshammari, H. N., Alanazi, . M. S., Alenezi, . M. L., Alshammari, . S. F., Alshammari, . M. O., Alshammari, . S. S. & Alharbi, . N. F. (2026) Public awareness and utilization of urgent care centers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on their role in reducing non-emergency ED visits. IJMDC, Online First: 06 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1781189593


Turabian Style

Alshammari, Hind Naif, Maryam Salamah Alanazi, Mishari Lafi Alenezi, Sulaiman Fraih Alshammari, Mada Omar Alshammari, Shaden Saud Alshammari, and Nawaf Fahhad Alharbi. 2026. Public awareness and utilization of urgent care centers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on their role in reducing non-emergency ED visits. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 06 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1781189593


Chicago Style

Alshammari, Hind Naif, Maryam Salamah Alanazi, Mishari Lafi Alenezi, Sulaiman Fraih Alshammari, Mada Omar Alshammari, Shaden Saud Alshammari, and Nawaf Fahhad Alharbi. "Public awareness and utilization of urgent care centers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on their role in reducing non-emergency ED visits." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 06 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1781189593


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alshammari, Hind Naif, Maryam Salamah Alanazi, Mishari Lafi Alenezi, Sulaiman Fraih Alshammari, Mada Omar Alshammari, Shaden Saud Alshammari, and Nawaf Fahhad Alharbi. "Public awareness and utilization of urgent care centers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on their role in reducing non-emergency ED visits." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 06 Oct, 2026. Web. 07 Oct 2026 doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1781189593


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alshammari, H. N., Alanazi, . M. S., Alenezi, . M. L., Alshammari, . S. F., Alshammari, . M. O., Alshammari, . S. S. & Alharbi, . N. F. (2026) Public awareness and utilization of urgent care centers in Hail, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on their role in reducing non-emergency ED visits. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 06 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1781189593




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