Public awareness of the medical ID feature on smartphones in Jeddah in 2020
Authors:
Maan Jamjoom
, Abdulelah S. Abualfraj
, Ahmad S. Mogaddam
, Abdulrahman A. Aljohani
, Faisal Aseeri
Abstract
Background: Medical identification (ID) feature on smartphones provides healthcare providers (HCPs) with crucial information about the patient in emergencies. Utilizing medical IDs depends on public awareness. Objective: To estimate the level of awareness about medical ID features on smartphones among the public in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2020. The estimated awareness will be compared to similar studies in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a qualitative cross-sectional study. A standardized electronic questionnaire was distributed to the public of Jeddah. Responses of the participants were collected via a Google Form. The data were analyzed in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences V27 to answer the questions of interest. Results: In total, 388 participants met the inclusion criteria. Of the respondents, 36.3% were aware of medical ID features on smartphones, with more awareness among females and significant associations of awareness with age and education level (p = 0.004, p = 0.026). Additionally, the medical ID feature on smartphones was the most recognized and used type of medical ID (74.6% and 70.37%, respectively) by those aware of medical ID. Conclusion: Awareness of the medical ID feature on smartphones among the participants was low. The study findings add to the nationwide data on this issue and provide an objective measurement of medical ID awareness which can guide future efforts concerning educating the public and HCPs about this feature's importance and ease of use.Keywords: Medical ID on smartphones, Medical Identification tag, Medical alert, Patient information, Emergency medical services
Pubmed Style
Maan Jamjoom, Abdulelah S. Abualfraj, Ahmad S. Mogaddam, Abdulrahman A. Aljohani, Faisal Aseeri. Public awareness of the medical ID feature on smartphones in Jeddah in 2020. SJE Med. 2021; 12 (August 2021): 250-256. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1615022331
Publication History
Received: March 25, 2021
Accepted: July 20, 2021
Published: August 12, 2021
Authors
Maan Jamjoom
Emergency Medicine Department, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Emergency Medicine Consultant, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Abdulelah S. Abualfraj
Emergency Medicine Department, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Emergency Medicine Physician, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Ahmad S. Mogaddam
College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Abdulrahman A. Aljohani
College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Faisal Aseeri
EMS Teaching Assistant, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.