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Review Article
Online Published: 13 Oct 2026
 


Public awareness of emergency department triage systems in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and associated factors

Ali Saud Alsaud, Faisal Ahmad Alaboodi, Faisal Abdulrahman Abolhaj, Haitham Shaffaqah Alanazi, Abdullah Saleh Almutairi, Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-quair, Faisal Sulaiman Alkhedhairi, Malek Khaled Almarzuqi, Khaled Sulaiman Alhendi, Abdullah Saleh Almithn, Zeyad Fahad Al-nugimashi, Abdulaziz Abdullah Alsuhaibani.


Abstract
Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a growing concern in Saudi Arabia, with non-urgent visits and limited public awareness of triage systems identified as key modifiable contributors. Despite the implementation of five-level triage systems, there is fragmented evidence on public awareness levels nationwide. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and ProQuest were searched to capture studies assessing public awareness of ED triage in Saudi Arabia. For meta-analysis, pooled prevalence estimates were calculated using a random-effects model with Freeman-Tukey. Also, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity. Eleven cross-sectional studies (N=6,901 participants) were included. The pooled prevalence of knowledge of triage definitions was 57.7% (95% CI: 53.4%–62.0%), whereas understanding of prioritization was substantially higher at 68.3% (95% CI: 61.8%–74.8%). Education was the most consistent predictor of awareness. Public attitudes toward triage fairness and acceptance were favorable (79–91%). The pooled prevalence of triage definition knowledge was 57.7%, compared with 68.3% for prioritization understanding. Targeted educational interventions are needed to improve awareness, particularly among less educated populations, to reduce inappropriate ED utilization and overcrowding.

Key words: Emergency department triage, public awareness, health literacy; Saudi Arabia, systematic review, meta-analysis


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alsaud AS, Alaboodi FA, Abolhaj FA, Alanazi HS, Almutairi AS, Al-quair AA, Alkhedhairi FS, Almarzuqi MK, Alhendi KS, Almithn AS, Al-nugimashi ZF, Alsuhaibani AA. Public awareness of emergency department triage systems in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and associated factors. IJMDC. Online First: 13 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784857553

Web Style

Alsaud AS, Alaboodi FA, Abolhaj FA, Alanazi HS, Almutairi AS, Al-quair AA, Alkhedhairi FS, Almarzuqi MK, Alhendi KS, Almithn AS, Al-nugimashi ZF, Alsuhaibani AA. Public awareness of emergency department triage systems in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and associated factors. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=328817 [Access: October 13, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784857553

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alsaud AS, Alaboodi FA, Abolhaj FA, Alanazi HS, Almutairi AS, Al-quair AA, Alkhedhairi FS, Almarzuqi MK, Alhendi KS, Almithn AS, Al-nugimashi ZF, Alsuhaibani AA. Public awareness of emergency department triage systems in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and associated factors. IJMDC. Online First: 13 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784857553


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alsaud AS, Alaboodi FA, Abolhaj FA, Alanazi HS, Almutairi AS, Al-quair AA, Alkhedhairi FS, Almarzuqi MK, Alhendi KS, Almithn AS, Al-nugimashi ZF, Alsuhaibani AA. Public awareness of emergency department triage systems in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and associated factors. IJMDC, [cited October 13, 2026]; Online First: 13 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784857553


Harvard Style

Alsaud, A. S., Alaboodi, . F. A., Abolhaj, . F. A., Alanazi, . H. S., Almutairi, . A. S., Al-quair, . A. A., Alkhedhairi, . F. S., Almarzuqi, . M. K., Alhendi, . K. S., Almithn, . A. S., Al-nugimashi, . Z. F. & Alsuhaibani, . A. A. (2026) Public awareness of emergency department triage systems in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and associated factors. IJMDC, Online First: 13 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784857553


Turabian Style

Alsaud, Ali Saud, Faisal Ahmad Alaboodi, Faisal Abdulrahman Abolhaj, Haitham Shaffaqah Alanazi, Abdullah Saleh Almutairi, Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-quair, Faisal Sulaiman Alkhedhairi, Malek Khaled Almarzuqi, Khaled Sulaiman Alhendi, Abdullah Saleh Almithn, Zeyad Fahad Al-nugimashi, and Abdulaziz Abdullah Alsuhaibani. 2026. Public awareness of emergency department triage systems in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and associated factors. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 13 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784857553


Chicago Style

Alsaud, Ali Saud, Faisal Ahmad Alaboodi, Faisal Abdulrahman Abolhaj, Haitham Shaffaqah Alanazi, Abdullah Saleh Almutairi, Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-quair, Faisal Sulaiman Alkhedhairi, Malek Khaled Almarzuqi, Khaled Sulaiman Alhendi, Abdullah Saleh Almithn, Zeyad Fahad Al-nugimashi, and Abdulaziz Abdullah Alsuhaibani. "Public awareness of emergency department triage systems in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and associated factors." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 13 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784857553


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alsaud, Ali Saud, Faisal Ahmad Alaboodi, Faisal Abdulrahman Abolhaj, Haitham Shaffaqah Alanazi, Abdullah Saleh Almutairi, Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-quair, Faisal Sulaiman Alkhedhairi, Malek Khaled Almarzuqi, Khaled Sulaiman Alhendi, Abdullah Saleh Almithn, Zeyad Fahad Al-nugimashi, and Abdulaziz Abdullah Alsuhaibani. "Public awareness of emergency department triage systems in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and associated factors." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 13 Oct, 2026. Web. 13 Oct 2026 doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784857553


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alsaud, A. S., Alaboodi, . F. A., Abolhaj, . F. A., Alanazi, . H. S., Almutairi, . A. S., Al-quair, . A. A., Alkhedhairi, . F. S., Almarzuqi, . M. K., Alhendi, . K. S., Almithn, . A. S., Al-nugimashi, . Z. F. & Alsuhaibani, . A. A. (2026) Public awareness of emergency department triage systems in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and associated factors. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 13 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784857553




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