Saudi Arabian Healthcare System Research Articles

Barriers for adherence to diabetic retinopathy screening among Saudi adult population, 2023

BACKGROUND: One common and blinding consequence of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. However, adherence to regular screening remains a challenge for Saudi adults. The goal of this study is to investigate and identify the barriers that hinder Saudi diabetic adults from adhering to screening for diabetic retinopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of adult diabetic patients throughout Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a self-administered validated questionnaire comprising following five primary sections: sociodemographic information, profile of diabetes, knowledge of diabetic retinopathy, behaviors, and hurdles to diabetic retinopathy screening. Sample selected using snowball sampling technique. Questionnaire was converted into Google Forms and was shared with study participants via E-mail and several social media sites, including Facebook and WhatsApp during November and December 2023. Data analyzed using SPSS; mean and standard deviation were calculated for continuous variables, whereas categorical data was presented as frequency and percentage. Logistic regression analysis determined barriers for adherence to screening for diabetic retinopathy. RESULTS: The mean age of the study group was 61.6 ± 15 years, and 58.3% were female. Out of 393 respondents, 71% had undergone retinopathy screening in the past few months; 29.0% had a history of diabetic retinopathy. Participants who knew about retinopathy were eight times more likely to have eye screening compared to those who did not know about retinopathy (odds ratio = 8.05, P < 0.001). Less screening chance was observed among those who had acquired their knowledge from the Internet (odds ratio = 0.23, P = 0.002) or relatives (odds ratio = 0.21, P = 0.002) compared to those who had been advised by their physicians. CONCLUSION: These findings underscored the multifaceted nature of barriers to regular screenings within the Saudi Arabian healthcare system. By understanding and addressing these barriers, healthcare systems can enhance the effectiveness of screening programs and improve health outcomes.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Perspectives of Caring for Patients with Disorders of Autism

Autism was initially identified as a discrete entity in 1943. This now recognized group of disorders is often identified in children, but is a lifelong disorder requiring specialized assessment, planning, and care for patients. Nurses practicing in the Saudi Arabian healthcare system are often the first healthcare providers to encounter autism in the clinical setting. To highlight the perspective of practicing mental health nurses in Saudi Arabia regarding their experiences in caring for clients who have this disorder. A qualitative inquiry, made up of two focus groups of five members each, composed of mental health graduate students with experience in the field, facilitated a detailed investigation of nurses’ experiences in providing care for clients with these aspects of autism in clinical settings. Four principal themes and subthemes emerged from the data, which informed researchers about mental health nurses’ experiences with autism: (1) knowledge of autism; (2) previous experience in caring for those with autism; (3) practical applications used; and (4) challenges felt by mental health nurses. The Saudi nursing community appears to be looking for better training in identifying and caring for autistic patients. There also appears to be a desire to open channels of communication between primary and tertiary care facilities to improve client access.

Unlocking compassion: expanding access to palliative care in Saudi Arabia.

Palliative care is an essential element of the healthcare system. It has profound benefits for patients with life-limiting illnesses. The Saudi Arabian healthcare system lags in integrating this vital component effectively. Hence, estimating the palliative care needs of the Saudi Arabian population is crucial to understanding the country's demand for palliative care. To assess the past trends in adult palliative care needs in Saudi Arabia. The current research used population-based secondary data analysis by employing two palliative care needs estimation methods: the direct or fixed estimation method by Gómez-Batiste and the maximum or maximal method by Murtagh and Rosenwax. The estimated palliative care needs were stratified by gender. An upward trend in the palliative care needs of the Saudi Arabian population is evident through the estimation techniques. The proportion of palliative care needs relative to deaths climaxed at 95% in the observed years. By 2022, the number of people requiring palliative care skyrocketed to 79,725 (fixed method) and 101,623 (maximal method). The need for palliative care in Saudi Arabia substantially rose in the observed years. It is inevitable to bridge the gap between palliative care needs and supply with advanced integration of palliative care services in the national healthcare system.

High-performance Work System and Employee Retention: A mediated Mediation Model

High performance work systems HPWS are integrated human resource approaches designed to enhance employees' skills and efforts, resulting in higher levels of performance and productivity (Zhu, et al., 2018). The major components of HPWS include selective hiring procedures, employment security, decentralization of decision-making, extensive training, information exchange, and fair paying, all of which are interconnected and work in concert (Zhang et al., 2019). Performance is increased when HPWS is employee service-oriented, while morale and employee retention ER are increased when HPWS is creativity-oriented (Jo et al., 2023). HPWS is more efficient than traditional organizational systems, nevertheless, it is yet unclear how this happens. Multiple studies have produced conflicting findings, and some even contend that HPWS may increase employee effort and stress (Jensen et al., 2022; Cooke et al., 2019). There is a gap on previous researches explaining how HPWS can help translate EPB, JE, and EP into better ER outcomes and whether this relationship differs depending on the organizational setting or the industries, these connections need to be explored further in order to find practical methods improve organizational capacity for employee retention. In accordance with Vision 2030 and the (National Transformation Program) the Saudi government is increasing the private sector's contribution to the nation's healthcare system (Rahman & Al-Borie, 2021).Even though a lot of work has been put into HPWS, there are still large research gaps in Saudi Arabia.So this study is enhancing the current knowledge by examining possible mediators (i.e., EPB, JE, and EP) between HPWS and ER helps further knowledge of the function of HPWS in the Saudi Arabian healthcare system in light of Vision 2030. Keywords: High performance work system, Employee Proactive Behaviour, Job engagement, Employee performance, Employee retention

Keeping up with the healthcare transformation: a review and research agenda for new decade of health information system in Saudi Arabia

In the modern world, technology has permeated every aspect of life and been integrated into it. This paper intends to provide an overview of the Saudi Arabian healthcare system's transformation through the use of information technology and to analyse the implications of doing so. To find publications for this review, an electronic search was conducted using the following search engines: PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and BioMed Central. The Saudi government places a high premium on healthcare, hence innovative technology have been implemented to transform health care. The use and use of new technology in the Saudi Arabian healthcare system can improve the effectiveness and standard of the patient treatment.

An Overview of Missed Nursing Care and Its Predictors in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Nursing care is holistic, and missing any aspect of care can be critical to patients' health. However, due to the complex and intense nature of the nursing practice, nurses have to unintentionally prioritize some activities, forcing them to omit some aspects of nursing care. Aim To explore the dimensions of missed nursing care and its predictors within the Saudi Arabian healthcare system. Methods Quantitative, cross-sectional study used the MISSCARE survey by utilizing nonprobability convenience sampling to collect the data of 604 staff nurses working in inpatient wards in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Results The overall mean of missed nursing care is (m = 1.37, SD = 0.45). Missed nursing care activities were mostly failure to attend interdisciplinary care conferences (m = 1.66, SD = 0.96) and patient ambulation thrice a day (m = 1.63, SD = 0.97). Missed nursing care was mainly caused by human resource shortage (m = 3.53, SD = 0.88). Missed nursing care is predicted by the turnover intention (B = 2.380, t = 3.829, p < 001) and job satisfaction (B = −0.864, t = −4.788, p < 001). Conclusion Although missed nursing care is evident in Saudi Arabia, it is significantly lower than the international rates, and it is mainly caused by labor resource shortage which directly influences nurses' job satisfaction and intention to leave. Optimizing the recruitment process, resource allocation and effective nurses' retention programs are proposed solutions that may be beneficial to mitigate missed nursing care.

Evaluating the Extent of Language Barriers Among Health Professionals in the Saudi Arabian Health System

This paper evaluates the cause, extent, and effects of language and cultural barriers within the Saudi Arabia healthcare system that have an indirect or direct effect on both the patient's perceived quality of care and the actual quality of care delivered. A systematic search of different databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, ProQuest, MEDLINE, and ScinceDirect.) was conducted. Using the following search terms language barrier’ AND ‘health’ AND ‘Saudi Arabia’. Additionally, the search terms ‘safety’ AND ‘quality’. The findings illustrate that the Saudi Arabian healthcare system is subject to significant impacts due to poor communication as a result of evident language barriers. Accordingly, it is proposed that individual level and an overall strategy for enhancing language and communication in healthcare across the Kingdom are implemented, including both technological solutions and organisational and human resource-based solutions. A proposed timeline for implementing these various strategies has been provided. Keywords: language barriers, Saudi Arabia healthcare system, language and communication in healthcare

Maturity of Clinical Audit Concept in Saudi Arabian Health Care Practice: A Review

Based on 2030 vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), improving the quality of preventive and therapeutic health care services is one of the targets that set out by the National Transformation Program (NTP). Clinical Audit (CA) is one of the great tools of quality improvement worldwide. Although a CA program was initiated just a while ago in Saudi Arabia, in this short duration the maturity of this practice in this country is evident in various documentations. However, it is still a long path to go in this practice as many health professionals are not yet mindful about the positive implications and benefits of this concept. In this consideration, this article was attempted to highlight the concepts, broad principles of and the mandatory stages in implementing CA practice to a success. Apart from that the leadership role in materializing CA, the barriers to its success, as well as, the pattern of CA practice in Saudi Arabian health care system in achieving its maturity have also been outlined.

Primary Caregivers Caring for a Child at End of Life in Saudi Arabia.

Background:Caring for children at end of life (EOL) can be devastating for primary caregivers who are responsible for the physical, social, and emotional needs of their dying child. Limited information was found on resources in Saudi Arabia to manage the impact on primary caregivers from caring for a child receiving end of life care (EOLC).Purpose:The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of primary caregivers caring for a child receiving EOLC within the Saudi Arabian health care system.Methods:A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted, and 24 female primary caregivers were interviewed individually. Participants were recruited from three hospitals and the surrounding community in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The data were collected over a period of seven weeks between August and September of 2019. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted using an 11-item investigator-developed interview guide derived from the literature on EOL. Thematic analysis was completed using transcripts from all interviews.Results:The findings suggest that primary caregivers caring for a child receiving EOLC were impacted psychologically, physically, socially, and financially. Primary caregivers expressed their heartbreak, lack of sleep, isolation, and financial challenges while caring for their child at EOL.Conclusions:Similar to what has been reported in the literature, primary caregivers caring for a child at EOL experience biopsychosocial and financial challenges. In addition, this study has implications for nursing education, practice, policy, and research regarding EOLC. Also, the findings can guide future research on EOL in Saudi Arabia and worldwide.

Colorectal cancer screening challenges in Saudi Arabia. A comprehensive review article

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Saudi Arabia and usually presents late in patients, who become symptomatic in advanced stages; thus, most cases of CRC in Saudi Arabia have poor outcomes. Saudi Arabia currently follows published guidelines and recommends screening for CRC because early diagnosis is critical; the Saudi Arabian healthcare system runs a program “Colorecal Cancer Early Detection” that has been rolled out in a gradual fashion. A screening program would aim to find individuals with asymptomatic CRC, educate patients, and streamline the process of screening for medium- and high-risk people. Currently, the Saudi Arabian population present minimal knowledge regarding CRC, the benefits of screening, and the importance of regular screening. The Saudi population is heavily dependent on physician recommendations for CRC screening, but physicians working in primary healthcare rarely recommend screening for CRC even in patients who have risk factors. The screening program for CRC in Saudi Arabia is cost effective. Public education is necessary along with expanded colonoscopy resources to continue enhance citizen participation and overcome the barriers of CRC screening such as physician recommendation and female gender low participation.

Measuring and monitoring patient safety in hospitals in Saudi Arabia

BackgroundThere is much variability in the measurement and monitoring of patient safety across healthcare organizations. With no recognized standardized approach, this study examines how the key components outlined in Vincent et al’s Measuring and Monitoring Safety (MMS) framework can be utilized to critically appraise a healthcare safety surveillance system. The aim of this study is to use the MMS framework to evaluate the Saudi Arabian healthcare safety surveillance system for hospital care.MethodsThis qualitative study consisted of two distinct phases. The first phase used document analysis to review national-level guidance relevant to measuring and monitoring safety in Saudi Arabia. The second phase consisted of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders between May and August 2020 via a video conference call and focused on exploring their knowledge of how patient safety is measured and monitored in hospitals. The MMS framework was used to support data analysis.ResultsThree documents were included for analysis and 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders working in the Saudi Arabian healthcare system. A total of 39 unique methods of MMS were identified, with one method of MMS addressing two dimensions. Of these MMS methods: 10 (25 %) were concerned with past harm; 14 (35 %) were concerned with the reliability of safety critical processes, 3 (7.5 %) were concerned with sensitivity to operations, 2 (5 %) were concerned with anticipation and preparedness, and 11 (27.5 %) were concerned with integration and learning.ConclusionsThe document analysis and interviews show an extensive system of MMS is in place in Saudi Arabian hospitals. The assessment of MMS offers a useful framework to help healthcare organizations and researchers to think critically about MMS, and how the data from different methods of MMS can be integrated in individual countries or health systems.

Prospects of Integrating Gig Economy in the Saudi Arabian Health-care System from the Perspectives of Health-care Decision-makers and Practitioners.

BackgroundGig economy is an approach in the labor market which is characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work in contrast to permanent jobs. The gig workers are independent workers or temporary contract workers who enter into formal/informal agreements with on-demand companies to provide their services. Rather than employing full-time/permanent employees companies may utilize gig workers as per the demand and work burden, which can minimize the costs incurred in managing permanent employees. However, there is a lack of research on using gig economy in health care, its prospects and the issues involved.PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate various prospects in integrating gig economy with the Saudi health-care system.MethodsAn online survey questionnaire instrument including 22 prospects under three categories including organizational competitiveness, resource management, and sustainable development was used for collecting data from 712 health-care decision-makers and practitioners in Saudi Arabia. Findings were analyzed using the statistical means and standard deviations for each item in the questionnaire for analyzing the role of each factor in depth, and t-tests were used for comparing the responses between the groups.ResultsT-tests revealed no significant differences among the experts and health-care workers in relation to organizational competitiveness and resource management; however, significant differences in opinions were identified in relation to sustainable development. Individual factors including motivation for Saudization program (mean=4.5, SD=1.15) and creating employment opportunities in rural areas (mean=4.5, SD=1.08), growth in economy (mean=4.4, SD=1.43), increased opportunities for women and disabled (mean=4.4, SD=1.28), and growth in employment (mean=4.3, SD=1.68) were the major prospects identified in relation to the use of gig economy in the Saudi Arabian health-care system.ConclusionGig economy may offer a wide range of benefits in health care, especially sustainable development, effective resource management, and organizational competitiveness.

Physicians' views on cardiovascular disease risk prevention services by pharmacists and potential for collaboration

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Early identification and management of modifiable CVD risk factors are highly effective in preventing disease onset and/or improving outcomes in CVD. As highly accessible primary health professionals, pharmacists can assume a role in screening and risk factor management in collaboration with physicians; however, such prevention services are not established practice in Saudi pharmacies. Therefore, the aim was to explore physicians' perceptions about the utility of a role in CVD risk screening and management for Saudi pharmacists. MethodsQualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim in Arabic or English. All transcripts were thematically analyzed in an inductive approach after translation into English if required. ResultsA total of 26 physicians recruited from public hospitals and primary healthcare centers were interviewed. Most were unaware of pharmacists' potential to undertake a role in CVD risk prevention. Although there was broad support for the concept, they recommended physician-pharmacist collaborative models, extensive provider pharmacist training, and strict oversight by the Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH)/other official authorities to ensure service quality and sustainability, should implementation occur. Healthcare system reform was considered key to expanding private sector (i.e., community pharmacy) involvement in healthcare, as was incentivizing providers and ‘marketing’ for patient acceptance. ConclusionPhysicians were positive about setting up a collaborative community pharmacist-physician CVD risk screening and management service model with the help of an authorized body within the Saudi Arabian healthcare system.

Gig Health vs eHealth: Future Prospects in Saudi Arabian Health-Care System.

IntroductionThe number of gig workers has been rising across the world, reflecting the growing trend toward the gig economy, which is already functioning in various sectors, such as transport(eg, Uber), technology (eg, Appen), and others (eg, Upwork). However, application of gig economy in health care is underresearched, especially in areas of eHealth that can facilitate various online activities and be outsourced.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the gig economy and eHealth in terms of prospects for future health care in Saudi Arabia.MethodsAnalysis of data collected using online semistructured interviews with 19 experts, including executives from ministries of health and information and communications, physicians, and health-care administrative managers was conducted and new empirical insights are offered.ResultsA lack of legal and regulatory frameworks and integrating gig culture into the eHealth system were identified to be the major challenges. Improved operational efficiency of health care, reduced costs, and positive societal impact were identified to be the opportunities and benefits of using the gig economy and eHealth in Saudi Arabia. A strategic framework and an effective regulatory framework are essential for integrating the gig economy into the eHealth system in Saudi Arabia and improving future health care by adopting innovative artificial intelligence and machine-learning technologies.ConclusioneHealth has major scope for future health-care operations in Saudi Arabia and use of the gig economy in eHealth may lead to effective management of eHealth operations. More studies are required to evaluate the idea of integrating the gig economy and eHealth and analyze its impact.

Evaluating the Readiness of Mobile Technology with Respect to e-Heath for Medication in Saudi Arabia: An Integrative Perspective.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the readiness of Saudi Arabian patients towards the adoption of the e-health system through the use of mobile phones.MethodsIn this research, a cross-sectional survey was carried out using a self-administered structured questionnaire. According to the results, 354 people viewed the questionnaire and 129 respondents were selected to assess the adoption of the e-health system in Saudi Arabia. The data were collected during February–March 2020.ResultsMore than half of the respondents (63.6%) were women and almost half of the participants (48.0%) were married. Most of the surveyed patients suffered from cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Almost all the participants (99.0%) had their personal mobile phone and used the Internet on these devices. Most of the participants did not trust or believe in online health services or online medical consultations and did not spend money on contracting health services through mobile phones. It is suggested that the lack of motivation to adopt the e-health system may be due to fear of privacy violations, fear of loss of personal data and information, lack of technical support, and mistrust in doctors who frequently use their cell phones to distract themselves during work-hours.ConclusionThe results of this study revealed that the population of Saudi Arabia is reluctant to adopt the electronic e-health system promoted in the Saudi Vision 2030 strategic plan. To change this behavior, it is necessary to develop awareness campaigns and strategies that suggest the importance of using e-heath in the Saudi Arabian healthcare system. Additionally, it is essential that the network administrator implement procedures to protect the confidentiality and security of patients’ medical records.

Identifying the factors influencing Saudi Arabian nurses' turnover.

This study identifies and analyses the risk factors contributing to nursing turnover in Saudi Arabia and identifies practical solutions to decrease turnover and encourage nurses to stay in their jobs. Saudi Arabia has a unique nursing profile, as the majority of the nursing workforce are expatriates. The Saudi health care system relies on contracted expatriate nurses to provide most of the direct patient health care. For nurses from other countries, Saudi Arabia can be a challenging place to work due to a range of factors including personal, policy and organisational variables. There is a high turnover of expatriate nurses, and this has been long-standing problem for the Saudi Arabian health care system. A cross-sectional survey design among nurses in Saudi Arabia including 502 nurses, of whom 83.7% are female. Structural equation modelling is used to examine the relationships between the study variables. Confirmatory factor analysis is used to create and validate the measurement models for variables. The analysis of the survey data identifies that Filipino nurses are more likely to intend to leave their current position than other expatriates, including Malaysian, Pakistani, Indian or local Saudi nurses. Many expatriates identify discrimination as an important contributing factor for their intention to leave, citing that the national salary remuneration for nurses should be based on competency and delivery of care. Furthermore, several independent variables are found to be significant predictors of anticipated turnover, including discrimination; social support from immediate supervisor; organisational commitment; and autonomy. This study provides the most comprehensive information available to date about the factors that influence nurses' desire to leave their current job and provides evidence for better health workforce planning in Saudi Arabia. This study strongly indicates that the main factor related to turnover is the unfair and unequal salaries paid to nurses of different nationalities in Saudi Arabia. The findings relating to both Saudi and foreign nurse employment could be helpful to policymakers and the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia.

The public health care system and primary care services in Saudi Arabia: a system in transition.

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in its health care system by establishing health care infrastructures to improve health of the nation. However, it remains to be seen whether it is efficient and effective in providing health care services needed. Primary health care, which is the basis of universal health coverage, needs to be assessed on its performance, challenges and future opportunities to serve the Saudi Arabian population. This review aimed to identify challenges within the Saudi Arabian health care system with a focus on primary health care services, and to analyse the interrelated factors in order to suggest remedial reforms to further strengthen and improve the health care system. A narrative review of previous studies and governmental reports was undertaken to extract, analyse, synthesize and report the findings. The review found a number of key areas for improvement in the primary health care system. These areas include: the scope, structure, infrastructure, financing, increased demand, increased costs and workforce capacity. Other critical challenges include inequitable access to health services, quality and safety of services, the growing burden of chronic diseases, lack of an effective information system, management and leadership issues, and gaps in the referral system. The Saudi Arabian health care system needs comprehensive reform with a focus on primary health care.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Regarding Drug Abuse and Misuse among Community Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia.

Background and Objective: Several over-the-counter drugs have been documented as an essential issue in the community pharmacy setting owing to their liability to abuse. Pharmacists act as a critical monitor for these concerns and evaluate the seriousness of the patients’ condition. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding drug abuse and misuse among pharmacists at a community pharmacy in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a validated self-administered questionnaire was carried out among community pharmacists over three months April to June 2019. The survey had 25 items on the experience, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, strategies, and opinions of participants toward drug abuse and misuse. Results: A total of 239 community pharmacists responded to the survey. About 84% of them had received training on drug misuse or abuse. The majority of community pharmacists (85.8%) would like to be provided educational programs on drug abuse in the future. Nearly all the pharmacists (94.9%) reported providing suitable advice to suspected drug misusers either in written or oral form at their pharmacies. Approximately 31% agreed or strongly agreed to dispense controlled drugs through a pharmacy. Regarding the ethical matter of selling misusers controlled drugs, 93.7% of the respondents believed that it is deceptive to offer misusers controlled medications. A comparison of knowledge and beliefs (univariate analysis) showed that the results were significant only for respondents who had graduated from Yemen (p = 0.007) and respondents who had an experience of four to six years or more (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The findings revealed that the majority of community pharmacists had been trained in recognizing drug abuse or dependence during their pharmacy college education. In addition, majority of them reported that they warned or counseled patients about the occurrence of adverse drug reactions to specific medications. However, majority of them agreed that selling controlled drugs is unethical in a community pharmacy. Thus, effective implementation of pharmaceutical rules and laws is a fundamental need in the Saudi Arabian health care system and we suggest stringent execution of the regulations by the Saudi health care authorities.

The healthcare system in Saudi Arabia: How can we best move forward with funding to protect equitable and accessible care for all?

The Saudi Arabian healthcare system is currently undergoing a process of reform. While it previously adopted a universal access approach in which all health care was provided free-of-charge to citizens at the point of care, this has been identified as unsustainable into the future. The shift towards an ageing population and the increasing burden of chronic disease, along with increasing use of technology and development of expensive treatments, mean that health care costs in Saudi Arabia are likely to increase significantly in the near future. Therefore, new ways to fund healthcare have been explored, with the solution proposed being a social insurance model in which employment contributions pay for care. This study seeks to identify the different alternatives which are available to the Saudi government and investigate the outcomes of these alternatives in their respective countries of use. The study examined the private insurance system in the United States of America, the social insurance system in Australia, the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, and the Public Private Partnership adopted by Singapore. It would seem that the Singaporean model is associated with the lowest level of government spending to maintain a high quality of patient care. However, further in-depth analysis is required to better understand how this model would apply to the Saudi Arabian context.

Overview of Cancer Care and Oncology Nursing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Cancer prevalence is increasing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While the exact etiology of this trend is unknown, it can perhaps be partially attributed to an increased life expectancy and changes in lifestyle habits. One of the main challenges to the provision of appropriate cancer and palliative care is the critical shortage of oncology healthcare professionals, including nurses. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is characterized by its Islamic faith, culture, and unique traditions that may contribute to uniquely stressful situations for oncology nurses working in Saudi oncology care settings. This article provides an overview of cancer care and oncology nursing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based on literature reporting challenges experienced by nurses delivering this care within the Saudi Arabian healthcare system and its cancer care services. Published literature written in English on cancer care and oncology nurses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were identified through a search of publicly available databases such as Medline, CINAHL, and Google Scholar as well as government sources. Reference lists were hand searched. Search terms used were Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian healthcare system, nursing education, nursing, Saudi nurses, oncology nursing, cancer, and cancer care. Common challenges facing oncology nursing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are related to high job demands, staff shortages, communication and language barriers, and cultural differences that may lead to stressful work environments and reduce the quality of care provided to their patients. While many steps have been undertaken by the Saudi Ministry of Health to reform the healthcare system, a number of challenges remain. The need for greater availability of cancer care and palliative care settings in all Saudi regions is strongly indicated. Nursing administrators/managers should take these factors into consideration to enhance the Saudi oncology care nursing work environment and to improve the quality of nursing care for patients with cancer and their families.