Assessing clinical knowledge of common medical emergencies, attitudes toward emergency medicine, and career perceptions among Pakistani medical students: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Emergency Medicine (EM) is a critical specialty focused on the rapid assessment and management of life-threatening conditions. EM faces significant challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 90% of healthcare emergencies occur. In Pakistan, awareness of EM as a specialty and opportunities for formal exposure remain limited. This study assessed medical students’ clinical knowledge of common medical emergencies, attitudes toward EM as a specialty, and perceptions and factors influencing consideration of EM as a career. Methods An analytical, cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted among undergraduate medical students in Pakistan. A structured questionnaire assessed clinical knowledge of common medical emergencies, attitudes toward EM as a specialty, and factors influencing or discouraging consideration of EM as a career. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were performed using SPSS version 26. Results A total of 528 participants, with a mean age of 22.22 ± 1.84 years, were included. Overall, 58.9% demonstrated good clinical knowledge of common medical emergencies. Residents of urban areas had higher odds of good clinical knowledge than residents of rural areas (AOR = 1.755, 95% CI: 1.04–2.93, p = 0.032), and fifth-year students had higher odds than first-year students (AOR = 3.401, 95% CI: 2.03–5.67, p < 0.001). Although 79.0% of participants expressed a positive attitude toward EM, 52.5% considered it a career option. Personal interest (93.9%), immediate intervention results (88.1%), and career opportunities (86.3%) were key motivating factors, whereas burnout risk (83.7%), lack of mentorship (82.5%), and lack of structured rotations/postgraduate training (80.9%) were major deterrents. Conclusion Medical students in Pakistan generally expressed a positive attitude toward EM, although only about half considered it a career option. Clinical knowledge of common medical emergencies was lower among students in earlier academic years and was associated with attitudes toward EM. These findings should be interpreted in light of the convenience-based web survey and inclusion of students at different stages of training. Structured exposure to emergency care, mentorship, and improved undergraduate teaching may strengthen informed perceptions of EM as a career.