Knowledge of Emergency Medical Services and Awareness of the Emergency Number 1669 Among Older Patients with Chronic Diseases and Their Caregivers in Rural Northern Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: Knowledge of emergency medical services (EMS) and awareness of emergency contact numbers are important for emergency preparedness among older patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their caregivers. This study aimed to assess self-reported EMS knowledge, awareness of Thailand’s emergency number 1669, previous EMS utilization, prior EMS training, and associated factors among both groups in rural Northern Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 828 participants comprising independently recruited older patients with chronic diseases (n = 414) and caregivers (n = 414). Data were collected using structured questionnaires and clinical assessments. Associations with self-reported EMS knowledge and awareness of the emergency number 1669 were examined using multivariable binary logistic regression separately for each group. Results: Among older patients, 60.1% reported familiarity with EMS, 57.7% were aware of the emergency number 1669, 11.8% had previously used EMS, and 8.0% had received EMS training. The corresponding proportions among caregivers were 48.3%, 39.6%, 9.4%, and 17.6%, respectively. Among patients, educational attainment, receipt of NCD-related information, and HbA1c levels were associated with self-reported EMS knowledge, while educational attainment and NCD-related information were associated with awareness of 1669. Among caregivers, age, occupation, and underlying medical conditions were associated with self-reported EMS knowledge, while age, occupation, underlying medical conditions, and poster exposure were associated with awareness of 1669. Conclusions: Self-reported EMS knowledge and awareness of the emergency number 1669 varied between older patients with chronic diseases and caregivers. These findings highlight the importance of targeted community-based educational initiatives to improve EMS-related knowledge and emergency number awareness in rural communities.