Public readiness for anaphylaxis emergencies in Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening systemic allergic reaction requiring prompt recognition and epinephrine administration. Public preparedness for anaphylaxis has not been previously assessed in Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia.

To measure the level of public knowledge, awareness, and practice readiness regarding anaphylaxis among adult residents of Al-Baha region.

A cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical survey conducted in Al-Baha region between February and April 2026.

A content-validated, reliable bilingual (Arabic/English) 27-item questionnaire was administered online to adults aged 18 years and older. Knowledge was scored out of 28 points and classified using Bloom's modified cut-off framework into low (≤16), moderate (17-23), and high (≥24) categories.

Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics v25. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and binary logistic regression were used. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

A total of 702 participants were included. The mean knowledge score was 14.4 ± 5.7/28 (51.4%). Knowledge levels were low in 65.9%, moderate in 25.9%, and high in 8.1%. Only 29.6% identified epinephrine as the first-line treatment, while 29.8% incorrectly considered antihistamines an alternative. Awareness of EpiPen was 25.2%, and only 23.1% correctly identified the injection site. Healthcare practitioner status, female gender, and student status were independent predictors of adequate knowledge (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.40, 1.97, and 2.19, respectively; all P < 0.05).

Anaphylaxis preparedness in Al-Baha is inadequate, particularly regarding epinephrine use and EpiPen administration. Healthcare practitioner status was the strongest predictor of adequate knowledge. Targeted community education through healthcare providers and primary care settings is urgently needed.