Authors: Sara S Al-zahrani , Roaa Ahmad Ali Bajafar , Abutaleb Ahmed Alsayed , Mohammed Yahya Alsayed , Abdulrahman Mohammed AlTurki , Rahaf Musaad Alsaedi , Shahad Ali Halwani , Nada Mudayni Alamri , Wejdan Abdullah Alkedaisi

Abstract

Background: Choking is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate recognition and appropriate first aid intervention to prevent serious complications or death. Despite its clinical importance, public awareness regarding choking recognition and appropriate first aid management remains limited, particularly in differentiating first aid measures for adults and children. In Saudi Arabia, evidence on public awareness of choking is scarce, highlighting the need for a nationwide assessment.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional community-based study was conducted across all regions of Saudi Arabia using a self-administered online questionnaire in Arabic. Adults aged 18 years and above were included. The questionnaire, adapted from a previously validated instrument, assessed knowledge and first aid practices related to choking. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, and binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with awareness.

Results: A total of 387 participants were included. Overall, 49.9% demonstrated good awareness, while 50.1% had poor awareness of choking recognition and first aid management. Females had significantly higher awareness than males (OR=2.95, 95% CI: 1.88-4.62, p=0.001). Participants with a bachelor's degree were also significantly more likely to have good awareness than those with lower educational levels (OR=8.50, 95% CI: 2.80-25.80, p=0.001). No significant associations were found between awareness and age or employment in the medical field.

Conclusion: Public awareness of choking recognition and first aid management in Saudi Arabia remains suboptimal, with approximately half of the participants demonstrating poor awareness. Female gender and higher educational attainment were significant predictors of better awareness. These findings highlight the need for targeted public education campaigns and wider access to first aid training programs to improve community preparedness and reduce preventable choking-related morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Choking, first aid, Heimlich maneuver, public awareness, Saudi Arabia, foreign body airway obstruction.