Non-Urgent Utilization of Emergency Services in a Saudi Tertiary Hospital: Patterns, Predictors, and Patient Motivations

Background:Non-urgent visits are a major cause of overcrowding and poor resource use in emergency departments (EDs). In Saudi Arabia, this problem is especially seen in tertiary hospitals.Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out in a Saudi tertiary hospital between January and June 2024. Patients aged 14 years and older, triaged as non-urgent (CTAS IV–V), were sampled systematically. Data on demographics, visit details, and reasons for attendance were collected. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for analysis.Results:A total of 410 patients were included (mean age 32.5 ± 11.4 years; 51.2% male). More than half were university educated (56.1%) and most came without referral (89.0%). About 25% were repeat visitors. Main reasons for attending were faster service (58.5%), 24-hour access (48.8%), and diagnostic services (43.9%). Predictors of non-urgent visits were: age below 30 years (AOR = 1.8, p = 0.004), higher education (AOR = 1.5, p = 0.021), repeat visits (AOR = 2.4, p < 0.001), and evening presentation (AOR = 1.6, p = 0.031). Employment status showed no effect.Conclusion:Non-urgent visits represent a large part of ED use in Saudi tertiary hospitals. Convenience and access are the main drivers. Stronger primary care services, longer clinic hours, and public education are important to reduce this inappropriate use.