Table 1

Patients' characteristics and emergency care-related characteristics by gender

Female
N=180
Male
N=210
Total
N=390
CharacteristicsN (%)N (%)N (%)Statistical significance
Age group (years)
 18–2440 (22.2)63 (30.0)103 (26.4)χ2=27.04; p<0.001*
 25–3984 (46.7)51 (24.3)135 (34.6)
 40–5946 (25.6)61 (29.0)107 (27.5)
 60 or more10 (5.5)35 (16.7)45 (11.5)
 Mean (SD)37.6 (5.8)34.4 (4.9)36.3 (5.6)t=1.85, p=0.06
Residency
 Rural11 (6.1)2 (1.0)13 (3.3)χ2=8.005; p=0.005*
 Urban169 (93.9)208 (99.0)377 (96.7)
Marital status
 Unmarried59 (32.7)90 (42.8)149 (38.2)χ2=4.17; p=0.041*
 Married121 (67.3)120 (57.2)241 (61.8)
Education level
 Illiterate and read and write28 (15.6)23 (11.0)51 (13.1)χ2=8.03; p=0.018*
 Primary and intermediate
 Secondary and above
42 (23.3)
110 (61.1)
76 (36.2)
111 (52.8)
118 (30.3)
221 (56.6)
Monthly income
 <5000 SR42 (23.3)27 (12.9)69 (17.7)χ2=7.30; p=0.007*
 ≥5000 SR138 (76.7)183 (87.1)321 (82.3)
NGHA eligibility
 Non-eligible14 (7.8)41 (19.5)55 (14.1)χ2=11.039; p=0.001*
 Eligible166 (92.2)169 (80.5)335 (85.9)
Reason to visit ED
 Abdominal pain53 (29.4)46 (21.9)99 (25.5)χ2=83.02; p<0.001*
 Chest pain7 (3.9)31 (14.8)38 (09.7)
 SOB17 (9.4)22 (10.5)39 (10.0)
 PV bleeding39 (21.7)0 (0)39 (10.0)
 Dizziness13 (7.2)80 (3.8)21 (05.4)
 Trauma5 (2.8)36 (17.1)41 (10.5)
 Headache7 (3.9)6 (2.9)13 (03.3)
 Others39 (21.7)61 (29.0)100 (25.6)
Waiting time (in minutes)
 Mean (SD)
 Median
53.03 (60.95)
30.0
59.25 (52.29)
40.0
56.51 (56.28)
30.0
z=3.13, p<0.001*†
Improvement compared with admission
 Same48 (26.7)64 (30.5)112 (28.7)χ2LT=20.90, p<0.001*
 Little better52 (28.9)118 (56.2)170 (43.6)
 Much better80 (44.4)28 (13.3)108 (27.7)
Health status compared with others
 Worse45 (25.0)28 (13.3)73 (18.7)χ2LT=1.05, p=0.3112.608;
 Same78 (43.3)125 (59.5)203 (52.1)
 Better57 (31.7)57 (27.2)114 (29.2)
Overall life satisfaction (scores)
 1–541 (22.8)41 (19.5)82 (21.0)χ2=0.618; p=0.432
 6–10139 (77.2)169 (80.5)308 (79.0)
 Mean (SD)7.41 (2.29)7.11 (1.88)7.25 (2.08)t=1.41, p=0.16
  • *Statistically significant.

  • †Mann-Whitney test was applied. SR, Saudi Riyals; NGHA, National Guard Health Affaires; SOB, shortness of breath; PV, per-vaginal bleeding.