Infectious disease risk awareness and protective behaviors among adult emergency department patients: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Background This study aimed to assess awareness of infectious disease risks and preventive behaviours among adults presenting to emergency departments with suspected infectious diseases. Methods This multicenter descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between February and March 2026 in four university-affiliated emergency departments in Istanbul. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 250 adults using the Patient Information Form and the Communicable Diseases Risk Awareness and Protection Scale. Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests, Spearman’s rank correlation analysis, and effect-size estimates were used. Results and Discussion The mean CDRAPS total score was 143.01 ± 14.47 (median, 144; range, 85–180). Significant differences in CDRAPS total scores were observed according to mode of arrival, HPV vaccination, smoking, alcohol use, healthcare work reported as an epidemiological risk factor, and isolation type (all p < 0.05); effect sizes for these comparisons were small. Fatigue, pain, fever, and cough were the most common presenting complaints. These findings indicate variation in infectious disease risk awareness and protective behaviours according to selected behavioural, healthcare-related, and infection-control characteristics. Conclusion Infectious disease risk awareness and protective behaviours among emergency department patients varied according to selected behavioural, healthcare-related, and infection-control characteristics. These findings may inform the development and evaluation of patient-centred infection prevention and risk communication strategies integrated into routine emergency care.