Muslim female gender preference in delaying the medical care at emergency department in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Hospitals are responsible for considering patients religious beliefs and spiritual ideas as part of their rights in emergency department (ED), where the urgent seek of medical intervention usually needed, these rights can be sometimes violated. This study is designed to take female Muslim patients view and their consideration when it comes to receiving health care from the same physician's gender or sex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research is a cross-sectional study, which was conducted at three hospitals in Saudi Arabia, Qassim region. The collection of the data by using a questionnaire distributed to 393 patients and visitor in ED, mostly female which represent 87.5% of the entire sample in this study. RESULTS: Indicated that more than half of female patient prefer to be seen by female physicians. The same preference with a male when the case involves one of their first-degree female relatives with exceptions in life-threatening cases, where more than half of the patients have not choose gender preference and want to rely on the available physician in ED either male or female physician. CONCLUSION: The study result shows an obvious considerable preference of the presence of a female physician in the ED to handle gastrointestinal disease, clinical assessment, non-life-threatening cases, and physical examination. However, in few situations such as life-threatening, psychiatric illnesses, and history taking, there was no preference for female over male physician. The religion was the main factor that affects in participants decisions. The intervention from the religious leader is mandatory to correct patient's beliefs, therefore, improve the outcome.