The public perception of and attitude toward primary healthcare centers in comparison to other specialties among the Saudi community

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to explore the community's perceptions and knowledge of and attitudes toward Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) and Primary Healthcare Providers (PHPs) and the PHCs’ services in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, and to discover some of the reasons behind not attending the PHCs as the first choice to address a medical issue. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done in Dammam and Al-Khobar cities, Saudi Arabia. 382 Saudi subjects were surveyed. Data was collected via a digital mobile-based survey and entered by the data collectors. SPSS version 25 was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Only 54% of the study population agreed to attend the PHCs as their first choice to address a medical issue. 72.3% of the respondents deemed the Emergency Department (ED) as a more important healthcare provider than a PHC. CONCLUSION: Acceptable perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes about PHCs and its services were noticed among the Saudi community in general. Public awareness campaigns are recommended to optimize full utilization of the PHCs’ services.