Sick leave issuance in an obstetrics and gynecology emergency room in Saudi Arabia: Insights for public health and family medicine.

Introduction: Sick leave documentation is a routine component of emergency visits but remains understudied in obstetrics and gynecology emergency room settings. Understanding the factors associated with sick leave issuance can inform better resource allocation and highlight opportunities for integration into primary healthcare services, particularly in the context of women's health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the trends, features, and associated factors of sick leave issued in the obstetrics and gynecology emergency room at a major teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This record-based retrospective epidemiological study was conducted on all obstetrics and gynecology emergency room visits of females aged ⩽60 years between January and December 2022 at a Saudi teaching hospital. Sociodemographic, clinical, and operational variables were extracted. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of sick leave issuance. Results: Of the 8743 visits, 7.61% resulted in sick leave. Older age, non-Saudi nationality, musculoskeletal and gynecological complaints, the autumn season, and morning visits were significantly associated with higher odds of sick leave. Among those issued with sick leave, only 4.36% received more than 3 days, which were mostly associated with hospital admission, the winter season, and longer emergency room stays. Conclusion: A sick leave is often requested for non-urgent complaints that can be managed in the primary healthcare settings. From a public health standpoint, integrating sick leave documentation and women's health services into primary healthcare may reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, optimize healthcare delivery, and support national healthcare transformation goals.