Saudi Arabian Community Perceptions on Saudi Female Paramedics: A Cross-Sectional Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic Data of Public Surveyed (n=3132)

	n	% of Total n
Age group (years)
18–29	1308	41
30–39	953	30.4
40–49	517	16.5
>50	354	11.3
Total	3132	100.0
Sex
Male	1646	52.6
Female	1486	47.4
Total	3132	100.0
Nationality
Saudi	3029	96.7
Non-Saudi	103	3.3
Total	3132	100.0
Job description
Medical	464	14.8
Non-medical	1301	41.5
Unemployed	1367	43.6
Total	3132	100.0
Residential area in Riyadh
North of Riyadh	775	24.7
South of Riyadh	517	16.55
East of Riyadh	909	29
West of Riyadh	514	16.4
Middle of Riyadh	417	16.3
Total	3132	100.0
Called for ambulance service for a female family member in the last 5 years
Yes	792	25.3
No	2340	74.7
Total	3132	100.0

Notes: Perception of Saudi public towards Saudi female paramedics. The perceptions of respondents toward female paramedics in Riyadh region are presented in Table 2. Several items related to the importance of the female paramedic role where respondents strongly agreed, including the need for female paramedics in the Saudi Arabian workforce (n=1192, 38.1%); that Saudi female paramedics should treat both male and female patients in emergencies; and preference for Saudi female paramedics treating their female family members. Items where respondents tended to strongly disagree included, never calling the ambulance services because there were no female paramedics and that Saudi female paramedics would be exposed to violence during their duties. Furthermore, Chi-square test were used to examine and assess the significant differences in responses between groups (Table 3).

Table 2 Perception of Saudi Public in Riyadh Region, n=3132

Item No.	Items	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	More or Less Disagree	Neutral	More or Less Agree	Agree	Strongly Agree
1	There is a need for female paramedics in the Saudi Arabian Ambulance Service	86 (2.7%)	91 (2.9%)	50 (1.6%)	466 (14.9%)	186 (5.9%)	1061 (33.9%)	1192 (38.1%)
2	I think Saudi female paramedics have similar skill levels as male paramedics	95 (3%)	138 (4.4%)	113 (3.6%)	609 (19.4%)	275 (8.8%)	1035 (33%)	867 (27.7%)
3	I think Saudi Ambulance Services should recruit female paramedics	123 (3.9%)	149 (4.8%)	81 (2.6%)	449 (14.3%)	280 (8.9%)	1106 (35.3%)	944 (30.1%)
4	The reason I never called an Ambulance is because there are no female paramedics	995 (31.8%)	668 (21.3%)	111 (3.5%)	762 (24.3%)	129 (4.1%)	306 (9.8%)	161 (5.1%)
5	I think Saudi female paramedics should treat both male and female patients in emergencies	143 (4.6%)	150 (4.8%)	88 (2.8%)	425 (13.6%)	214 (6.8%)	1002 (32%)	1110 (35.4%)
6	I think female paramedics can deal with children/women/elderly people better than male paramedics	193 (6.2%)	259 (8.3%)	121 (3.9%)	855 (27.3%)	281 (9%)	746 (23.8%)	677 (21.6%)
7	I prefer a Saudi female paramedic to treat my wife/mother/sister	67 (2.1%)	89 (2.8%)	48 (1.5%)	583 (18.6%)	202 (6.4%)	966 (30.8%)	1177 (37.6%)
8	I think that Saudi female paramedics can balance their family responsibilities and work duties	110 (3.5%)	172 (5.5%)	158 (5%)	772 (24.6%)	338 (10.8%)	1003 (32%)	579 (18.5%)
9	I think that long hours and shift work might have an impact on Saudi female paramedics physically, psychologically and family.	105 (3.4%)	190 (6.1%)	108 (3.4%)	656 (20.9%)	419 (13.4%)	1030 (32.9%)	624 (19.9%)
10	I think that Saudi female paramedics can deal emotionally with any cases they attend to as paramedics	73 (2.3%)	140 (4.5%)	120 (3.8%)	725 (23.1%)	394 (12.6%)	1126 (36%)	554 (17.7%)
11	I think Saudi female paramedics are physically capable of dealing with any cases they attend as paramedics	184 (5.9%)	300 (9.6%)	251 (8%)	715 (22.8%)	402 (12.8%)	879 (28.1%)	401 (12.8%)
12	I think that Saudi female paramedics will be exposed to violence while working with the Ambulance	611 (19.5%)	846 (27%)	262 (8.4%)	723 (23.1%)	257 (8.2%)	303 (9.7%)	130 (4.2%)
13	I think Saudi female paramedics will suffer from burnout being a paramedic	193 (6.2%)	427 (13.6%)	195 (6.2%)	839 (26.8%)	447 (14.3%)	723 (23.1%)	308 (9.8%)

Table 3 Chi2 Outcomes for Each Variable, n=3132

Questionnaire Items	Age Group	Sex	Location	Nationality	Job	Yes Ambulance
	Chi^2 (p)	Chi^2 (p)	Chi^2 (p)	Chi^2 (p)	Chi^2 (p)	Chi^2 (p)
1. There is a need for female paramedics in the Saudi Arabian Ambulance Service	44.62 (<0.001)	22.91 (0.001)	34.55 (0.075)	6.12 (0.410)	23.08 (0.027)	14.32 (0.026)
2. I think Saudi female paramedics have similar skill levels as male paramedics	46.25 (<0.001)	66.23 (<0.001)	19.24 (0.739)	6.38 (0.382)	38.56 (<0.001)	13.46 (0.036)
3. I think Saudi Ambulance Services should recruit female paramedics	59.99 (<0.001)	31.6 (<0.001)	40.43 (0.019)	15.51 (0.017)	28.76 (0.004)	12.16 (0.059)
4. The reason I never called an Ambulance is because there are no female paramedics	57.69 (<0.001)	54.9 (<0.001)	52.16 (0.001)	12.17 (0.058)	27.32 (0.007)	10.42 (0.108)
5. I think Saudi female paramedics should treat both male and female patients in emergencies	71.2 (<0.001)	16.12 (0.013)	37.68 (0.037)	8.46 (0.207)	39.81 (<0.001)	10.52 (0.105)
6. I think female paramedics can deal with children/women/elderly people better than male paramedics	70.83 (<0.001)	23.83 (<0.001)	34.87 (0.07)	19.98 (0.003)	36.64 (<0.001)	9.8 (0.133)
7. I prefer a Saudi female paramedic to treat my wife/mother/sister	61.47 (<0.001)	153.53 (<0.001)	28.09 (0.256)	5.08 (0.534)	34.18 (0.001)	8.95 (0.176)
8. I think that Saudi female paramedics can balance their family responsibilities and work duties	65.19 (<0.001)	62.16 (<0.001)	36.97 (0.044)	15.16 (0.019)	36.4 (<0.001)	6.4 (0.38)
9. I think that long hours and shift work might have an impact on Saudi female paramedics physically, psychologically and family.	83.09 (<0.001)	37.03 (<0.001)	18.96 (0.754)	11.5 (0.074)	32.95 (0.001)	4.53 (0.606)
10. I think that Saudi female paramedics can deal emotionally with any cases they attend to as paramedics	87.64 (<0.001)	16.86 (0.01)	31.56 (0.138)	5.54 (0.476)	34.13 (0.001)	7.72 (0.259)
11. I think Saudi female paramedics are physically capable of dealing with any cases they attend as paramedics	51.76 (<0.001)	85.02 (<0.001)	16.43 (0.87)	11.42 (0.076)	45.99 (<0.001)	9.64 (0.141)
12. I think that Saudi female paramedics will be exposed to violence while working with the Ambulance	64.60 (<0.001)	58.24 (<0.001)	46.69 (0.004)	2.15 (0.906)	30.69 (0.002)	4.19 (0.651)
13. I think Saudi female paramedics will suffer from burnout being a paramedic	47.75 (<0.001)	18.0 (0.006)	26.43 (0.332)	9.47 (0.149)	23.63 (0.023)	9.03 (0.172)

Notes: Adjusted association – multivariate ordinal logistic regression. The adjusted associations between respondents’ demographics and response scale are presented in Table 4. There were significant associations between sex in almost all items, except items 5 and 6 (p-value <0.05). There were also significant associations, in several items, between age group (items 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9), location (items 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12 and 13) and job description (items 3, 5, 6 and 7) and the response scale, with p-value < 0.05.

Table 4 Multivariate Ordinal Regression for Each Question of Each Variable

Questionnaire Items	Age Group Coeff (95% CI)	Sex Coeff (95% CI)	Location Coeff (95% CI)	Nationality Coeff (95% CI)	Job Coeff (95% CI)	Yes Ambulance Coeff (95% CI)
1. There is a need for female paramedics in the Saudi Arabian Ambulance Service	−0.10 (−0.18 to −0.04, 0.001*)	0.23 (0.10 to −0.36, 0.001*)	−0.04 (−0.08 to 0.01, 0.147)	0.09 (−0.26 to 0.45, 0.604)	−0.07 (−0.16 to 0.03, 0.175)	−0.07 (0.08 to 0.08, 0.369)
2. I think Saudi female paramedics have similar skill levels as male paramedics	−0.01 (0.08 to 0.05, 0.670)	0.49 (0.61 to 0.61, <0.001^#)	−0.06 (−0.11 to −0.01, 0.014^^)	0.25 (0.59 to 0.59, 0.154)	−0.05 (−0.14 to 0.05, 0.309)	−0.05 (−0.20 to 0.10, 0.520)
3. I think Saudi Ambulance Services should recruit female paramedics	−0.07 (−.013 to −0.00, 0.041^^)	0.41 (0.28 to 0.54, <0.001^#)	−0.05 (−0.10 to −0.01, 0.027^^)	0.27 (−0.07 to 0.61, 0.121)	−0.11 (−0.20 to −0.01, 0.024^^)	−0.06 (−0.21 to 0.09, 0.431)
4. The reason I never called an Ambulance is because there are no female paramedics	0.17 (0.11 to 0.23, <0.001^#)	0.22 (0.08 to 0.35, 0.001*)	0.05 (0.01 to 0.09, 0.028^^)	0.36 (0.01 to 0.72, 0.044^^)	0.08 (−0.02 to 0.12, 0.110)	−0.06 (−0.20 to 0.09,0.435)
5. I think Saudi female paramedics should treat both male and female patients in emergencies	−0.18 (−0.25 to −0.12, <0.001^#)	0.08 (−0.06 to 0.21, 0.257)	−0.04 (−0.09 to 0.01, 0.095)	−0.02 (−0.36 to 0.32, 0.908)	−0.18 (−0.28 to −0.09, <0.001^#)	0.03 (−0.12 to 0.17, 0.727)
6. I think female paramedics can deal with children/women/elderly people better than male paramedics	0.02 (−0.04 to 0.08, 0.537)	−0.03 (−0.16 to 0.10, 0.664)	−0.01(−0.05 to 0.04, 0.814)	0.42 (0.08 to 0.77, 0.015^^)	0.15 (0.06 to 0.25, 0.001*)	−0.20 (−0.34 to −0.05, 0.008*)
7. I prefer a Saudi female paramedic to treat my wife/mother/sister	0.16 (0.09 to 0.22, <0.001^#)	−0.84 (−0.98 to −0.71, <0.001^#)	0.04 (−0.01 to 0.09, 0.109)	0.03 (−0.33 to 0.38, 0.883)	0.19 (0.10 to 0.29, <0.001^#)	0.13 (−0.02 to 0.28, 0.086)
8. I think that Saudi female paramedics can balance their family responsibilities and work duties	−0.09 (−0.15 to −0.03, 0.006*)	0.45 (0.32 to 0.58, <0.001^#)	−0.06 (−0.10 to −0.01, 0.020^^)	0.19 (−0.15 to 0.52, 0.277)	0.06 (−0.03 to 0.16, 0.199)	0.04 (−0.10 to 0.19, 0.584)
9. I think that long hours and shift work might have an impact on Saudi female paramedics physically, psychologically and family.	0.21 (0.15 to 0.28, <0.001^#)	−0.38 (−0.51 to −0.24, <0.001^#)	0.06 (0.01 to 0.11, 0.013^^)	−0.19 (−0.54 to 0.16, 0.287)	−0.08 (−0.17 to 0.02, 0.101)	−0.01 (−0.15 to 0.14, 0.937)
10. I think that Saudi female paramedics can deal emotionally with any cases they attend to as paramedics	0.06 (−0.00 to 0.12, 0.069)	0.17 (0.03 to 0.30, 0.014^^)	−0.01 (−0.06 to 0.03, 0.617)	−0.12 (−0.47 to 0.22, 0.488)	0.09 (−0.01 to 0.18, 0.068)	−0.07 (−0.22 to 0.08, 0.347)
11. I think Saudi female paramedics are physically capable of dealing with any cases they attend as paramedics	−0.03 (−0.09 to 0.03, 0.361)	0.52 (0.39 to 0.65, <0.001^#)	−0.02 (−0.07 to 0.02, 0.358)	0.41 (0.07 to 0.75, 0.017^^)	0.09 (−0.00 to 0.18, 0.058)	0.03 (−0.12 to 0.17, 0.710)
12. I think that Saudi female paramedics will be exposed to violence while working with the Ambulance	0.01 (−0.05 to 0.07, 0.772)	0.25 (0.12 to 0.38, <0.001^#)	0.06 (0.01 to 0.11, 0.012^)	−0.20 (−0.55 to 0.15, 0.261)	−0.03 (−0.12 to 0.06, 0.492)	−0.07 (−0.22 to 0.07, 0.324)
13. I think Saudi female paramedics will suffer from burnout being a paramedic	0.00 (−0.06 to 0.06, 0.941)	−0.14 (−0.27 to −0.01, 0.032^^)	0.06 (0.01 to 0.10, 0.015^^)	−0.26 (−0.62 to 0.09, 0.147)	−0.04 (−0.14 to 0.05, 0.350)	0.02 (−0.12 to 0.17, 0.767)

Notes: ^#p<0.001, *p<0.01, ^{^}p <0.05.