Saudi Society Research Articles

The Phenomenon of Wearing Traditional Fashion Among Saudi Women

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the extent to which Saudi women wear traditional clothes, to determine the occasions in which women wear those outfits, and to identify the factors affecting their adoption in Saudi society.
 Methods: The study follows a descriptive analytical approach using the survey-based analysis, for a simple random sample of (300) women from the different regions of Saudi Arabia, and (9) Saudi fashion designers, which is an intentional sample.
 Results: The study reached several results, the most prominent of which Show the existence of a correlation between the desire of women to wear traditional costumes and the age, educational level, financial income, and occupation. There is a relationship between women's wearing traditional costumes and some of the factors affecting their wearing. There is a relationship between women's willingness to wear traditional costumes and the types of occasions in Saudi society. The majority of Saudi designers do not have a background in the names and shapes of the original Saudi traditional costume and motifs.
 Conclusions:The paper concludes with recommendations to monitor and record the changes to traditional costumes in Saudi Arabia, to establish a specialized conventional fashion museum for each region in the Kingdom, and to link classic fashion to global fashion.

Providing pharmacy services during the coronavirus pandemic in Saudi Arabia (Review)

On March 2, 2020, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirmed its first case of the emerging coronavirus strain that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Shortly thereafter, the number of confirmed cases nationwide began to rise. Since the looming outbreak, all healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, began to work at maximum capacity and effort. The Saudi Society of Clinical Pharmacy (SSCP) recognizes the significant impact pharmacists can have during outbreaks. Based on the scientific evidence available during this outbreak, the SSCP set up an expert working group to conceptualize and draft proposed recommendations that highlight the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists during epidemics and pandemics. The SSCP working group made 28 recommendations. In addition to national and institutional guidelines, these recommendations could serve as guidance for affected entities.

Corruption And Its Impact on Economic Performance in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to demonstrate the impact of corruption on economic performance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by identifying the nature of corruption, its causes, forms, and effects, and it aims to develop effective strategies to control it and limit its negative effects in Saudi society. The study population included male and female employees of the government sector and from the regulatory and economic authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as a simple random sample was selected from the study population, the size of which were 100 male and female employees. The study used the descriptive analytical approach to achieve its objectives and the questionnaire as a data collection tool. The study referred to a set of results, the most important of which are: the absence of accountability and transparency mechanisms that contribute to the occurrence of corruption in a large way, with a relative average of 78.99%, employees’ sense of job dissatisfaction with a relative average of 76.40%, as well as the absence of the role of public oversight, with a relative average of 76.16%. The study recommended the necessity of paying attention to the preventive aspects of corruption, spreading awareness, applying transparency, expanding the tax base to reduce the phenomenon of tax and customs evasion, and developing strategic economic and development plans based on basic rules, controls, and executive procedures for all government institutions. Finally, activating the role of public oversight to monitor the work of economic institutions.

The experience of informal caregiving within Saudi society: expressed needs and expectations

BackgroundEven though informal caregivers have always been a major element within any society, their contribution to the healthcare system has only recently been recognized. Accordingly, the sustainability of their informal social role is becoming a major concern to policymakers. In Saudi Arabia, recognition of informal caregiving is still limited. This study was carried out to investigate the experience of caregiving in informal settings through identifying the needs of the caregivers along with their expectations of the formal system.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to measure the experience of Saudi informal caregivers who were caring for at least one individual with a dependency resulting from either disability, aging, or both. A self-administered questionnaire was designed specifically for this study with 88% reliability. A convenient sample of 300 caregivers was invited electronically through 14 websites supporting families with dependent individuals.ResultsOf the eligible participants (n = 271), about two-thirds were caring for one elderly person or more, while one-third were caring for individual(s) with disabilities. The two groups did not differ in their needs; their greatest perceived needs were necessary equipment for care recipients, free time to socialize, alternative care setting, and proper income. Overall, the needs on the system level were the highest, followed by the needs on the financial level, then on the social level. On the other hand, the caregivers of individuals with disabilities had greater expectations of formal support than caregivers of the elderly. The greatest expectation among the participants was facilitating care recipients’ mobility within their communities. Overall, the expectations of information support were the highest followed by the expectations of financial support and then material support.ConclusionThe participants expressed great expectations of formal support along with some unmet needs. Further research is recommended to emphasize the role of primary caregivers along with the nature of the assistance received throughout the caregiving process. The needs of individuals with dependencies along with those of the caregivers must be considered in the planning process of healthcare services. Finally, the expectations of informal caregivers should lead the priorities of the development decisions of long-term care services.

What motivated residents of Saudi Arabia to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

Acceptance of vaccination is a multifactorial issue. The unprecedented speed at which the COVID-19 disease spread globally has meant that people have had to face the idea of receiving novel vaccines for a novel disease. Studies conducted earlier in the pandemic had shown high vaccine hesitancy in Saudi Arabia, therefore we wanted to understand the motivating factors for people living in Saudi Arabia with regards to accepting the COVID-19 vaccine, our survey was conducted when the government had already mandated vaccination to enter public spaces. Saudi society is not particularly outspoken and therefore it was of special importance to the authors to explore the motivation behind COVID-19 vaccines. This is a cross-sectional survey of 802 participants living in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was distributed to staff, visitors, and patients in a hospital in Saudi Arabia and via electronic means to the general population. A total of 521 (65%) of the respondents were women, and 281 (35%) were men. A total of 710 (88.5%) were Saudi, and 55 (6.9%) were non-Saudi. The majority of participants (496, 65.7%) stated that they registered for the vaccine as soon as it was available, with 185 (24.5%) stating that they registered when they were mandated to do so and 74 (9.8%) registered only when they felt cases were increasing. Most participants (316, 41%) stated that the main reason for taking the vaccine was one of a self-protective nature, followed by indirect vaccination (240, 31.1%), paternalistic reasons (157, 20.4%) and altruistic reasons (58, 7.5%). With the increased burden on healthcare that is being faced by COVID-19, other resources need to be carefully allocated. This paper may aid the Saudi government in understanding the motivation for the population to take the vaccine and therefore facilitate any future vaccination campaigns to ensure the best utilization of resources.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Members of the Saudi Community: Perceptions and Expectations From the Pandemic.

Background and purpose Community individuals and sectors worldwide, including health, security, economy, education, and occupation, are being challenged to confront the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The deadly virus originated in Wuhan city in China and spread globally to other countries on account of its rapid mode of transmission.Solidarity and cooperation were vital elements in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic all around the globe. Actions of solidarity among countries included gathering the world's leading experts to discuss the latest research and innovation while working to promote knowledge and empowerment across the communities. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on different aspects of the Saudi community, including health, education, finance, lifestyle, and others. We also wanted to identify the perceptions of the general Saudi population regarding the impactof the pandemic and its long-term effects. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2020 to February 2021 among individuals across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.The online self-developed survey was disseminated to thousands of individuals in the Saudi community and yielded 920 responses. Results Roughly 49% of the studied participants postponed their dental and cosmetic centerappointments, and 31% reported delayed periodic health appointments in hospitals and primary healthcare centers. Around 64% reported missing hearing "Tarawih/Qiyam" Islamic prayers. Furthermore, 38% of the study respondents reported being anxious and stressed, 23% reported having sleeping disorders, and 16% wanted to be isolated from the community. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic helped approximately 65% of the studied participants to abstain from ordering from restaurants and cafes. Additionally, 63% of them reported gaining new skills or behaviors during the pandemic.Many participants (54%) thought that after the curfew recession, they will face financial challenges while 44% assumed that life will not return to what it used to be. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has had a multidimensional impact on Saudi society, which has affected both individuals and the community as a whole. Some of the short-term perceived impacts involved interruption in the provision of health care, poor mental well-being, financial hardship, challenges related to homeschooling and working from home, and the inability to fulfill spiritual needs. On the bright side, community individuals demonstrated the ability to learn and develop during the pandemic by striving to acquireknowledge and new skills.

Current developments of ambulatory pharmaceutical care in Saudi Arabia

AbstractIntroductionThe evolving specialty of ambulatory care pharmacy practice under the clinical pharmacy profession in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has blossomed recently. It has provided patient‐centered care in multiple areas such as medication therapy management, anticoagulation, diabetes management, and immunization that advanced over the past two decades. In light of the Saudi Vision 2030, the ambulatory care pharmacy practice awaits tremendous opportunities with expected challenges that require consequential efforts and vigilant planning by clinical pharmacists and concerned governmental and non‐governmental bodies.ObjectivesDescribe the current and future development of ambulatory care pharmacy services in KSA and propose a scheme for collaborative practice agreement (CPA).MethodsThis is a review written by a group of experts under the umbrella of the Saudi Society of Clinical Pharmacy (SSCP) to propose a structured strategy for building an ambulatory care pharmacy practice in KSA, describe the currently available services and training requirements, and suggest a scheme for CPA.Results and ConclusionThe experts' vision support the ambulatory care pharmacy practice in KSA, recommends a framework and constructed elements for a unified and comprehensive CPA in the region. It emphasizes on the training and set requirements for pharmacists to be eligible to provide ambulatory care clinical pharmacy services in a defined care setting.

Assessment of Saudi Society's Knowledge Regarding Hypothyroidism and Its Neuropsychiatric Clinical Manifestations.

This study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of hypothyroidism and its neuropsychiatric clinical manifestations among the Saudi population. This was a cross-sectional study employing a convenient sampling technique, conducted between February and May 2022. A questionnaire was distributed online to all participants in all five regions. In this survey, a total of 2016 Saudi citizens participated. When asked about depression, more than half of the participants (59.6%) correctly identified depression as one of the neuropsychiatric clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism. Nearly half of the participants (47.5%) were unaware that anxiety was not a neuropsychiatric manifestation of hypothyroidism. With a percentage of 91.0%, the majority of participants exhibited poor knowledge. The regression analysis showed that males have significantly reduced knowledge about hypothyroidism than females (coefficient -3.686, p-value < 0.0001). Similarly, those who have "enough income and can save" were more knowledgeable than others (coefficient 0.731, p-value < 0.02). Regarding the source of information, journals provide three times more information (p-value 0.0001), and healthcare practitioners provides four times more information as compared to family and friends (p-value 0.0001). Due to a lack of knowledge about hypothyroidism and its complications, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment, the most viable solution to these misconceptions would be to implement a variety of educational programs to increase public awareness of this issue.

Physical Activity and Motor Performance Satisfaction among the Elderly: Saudi Society

This research aimed to identify the levels of participation in physical activities and their relationship to motor satisfaction among the elderly. Eighty-three participants, ranging in age from 60¬–75 years, engaged in this study. The measure of motor satisfaction, the levels of participation in sports and physical activities questionnaires were applied in the data collection process. The findings suggest that there is a significant positive relationship between the level of positive participation and the measure of movement satisfaction. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between the level of emotional participation and the motor satisfaction scale. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were evident on the motor satisfaction scale between the 60–65 and 71–75 age groups, with greater satisfaction among those aged 60¬–65. The research results implied the need to consider the clubs and sports centres when planning sports or physical activities programmes for the elderly and to provide opportunities to choose appropriate activities according to their needs, including physical, psychological, health and social needs, as this will help them achieve physical satisfaction when participating in activities.

Studying the behaviors and habits of individuals in order to find the most appropriate preventive strategies for the Saudi society

Background and Aims: Preventive interventions require comprehensive policies that combine several dimensions: health, economic, and social, and above all, educational and cultural. The effectiveness of these preventive measures lies in the extent to which measures are applied at the individual and collective level in order to enhance the health culture and build an integrated hospital system. In this context, the education sector plays a major role in implementing preventive habits in a world where disease is spreading greatly and very quickly. In addition to emerging infectious diseases, future health challenges also relate to chronic diseases: cardiovascular diseases, cancers, accident consequences and their risk factors, and these factors are mostly related to the lifestyle and behavior of individuals. The aim of research in health sciences is to expand knowledge of health challenges and to improve and evaluate health policies and practices. This research paper aims to identify the types of prevention strategies based on studying the behaviors and habits of citizens of the Saudi society in order to find the most appropriate prevention strategies for the Kingdom. The research also aims to identify challenges within the health care system in the Kingdom with a focus on primary health care services, and analyze the interrelated factors in order to propose remedial reforms to further strengthen and improve the health care system. This study aims to improve the quality of individuals’ health and reduce the costs of care and hospitalization. This study also seeks to define strategies that can be considered to achieve the two goals (improving the quality of individuals’ health and reducing the costs of care and hospitalization). Methods: To understand the phenomenon of health awareness and to explain the behavior of participants by exploring their natural environment and their interaction with each other and to identify appropriate prevention strategies against diseases and epidemics, an empirical approach is adopted that focuses on studying the habits of individuals. The study was conducted using the inductive method, which included a survey of a sample of (764) individuals representing the entire population of the Kingdom. The questionnaire was distributed on various social networks, and the sample was chosen by simple random drawing in a probabilistic manner in which the probability of leaving the sample is equal to all members of the community. The survey was conducted during June 2021. Results: The conclusion is that the two hypotheses of the study are correct because preventive. The pilot study showed two main groups of variables. The first group represents the individual prevention measures and the second group the collective prevention measures. These two types are actually complementary. The conclusion is that the two measures of the study are correct because preventive measures should be individual initiatives but also that the health system should be guided by national and local actions. With regard to the Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin test (KMO), which is a general measure of partial correlation between study variables, it is equal to 0.761, which indicates an average validity. According to the Bartlett test, the hypothesis H0 must be rejected (the test result must be equal to or less than 0.05 in our case the value is 0.00). Therefore, the search for components is justified. Conclusion: All of these measures have one goal: to reduce the costs of care, also called the costs of non-prevention, because the cost of implementing these measures is much lower than the cost of care or hospitalization in the event of complications, the principle is simple, and that is to implement preventive strategies that are based first and foremost on educating individuals.

Leaving the Academic Sector: Saudi Society

This study aims to identify the most important reasons academics prefer to leave work in the academic sector in favor of other opportunities outside the walls of universities. This study seeks to shed light on academics to understand their views on the actual motives of this phenomenon, its effects on administrative development in universities and society, and its repercussions on the competitiveness of universities in Saudi Arabia. This study was conducted through interviews with academics who have left academic work and with current academics or those who intend to leave academic work and depart from universities in favor of other opportunities. The results indicate that there are several reasons leading to job leakage, some of which are related to the university work environment, administrative complexities, weak leadership competencies, and bureaucracy. Some are related to the attractiveness of alternative opportunities in terms of financial compensation, self-fulfillment, and achieving a prestigious social status. The study indicates several effects resulting from the departure of academic talents and the implications of this phenomenon for the competitiveness of Saudi universities at the local, regional, and international levels. The study presents several recommendations derived from the study's results, which, if implemented, could contribute to reducing this phenomenon. KEYWORDS Administrative development, brain drain, career management, career success, job satisfaction, work environment.

A Framework for Building a Housing Support System for Orphans: Saudi Society

This study examines the state of housing support for orphans in Saudi Arabia—a group that suffers from poor financial capacity and social deprivation. It proposes a framework that enhances the participation of all relevant authorities in the housing support system, enabling orphans to obtain housing needs, social stability, and economic empowerment within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030. A descriptive approach was used to determine the role of partnership in housing support programs for orphans. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 41 experts, and the numerical data were analyzed. The study results showed that orphans face several challenges when seeking housing support. There is a lack of legislation and rules defining the roles of partner agencies in providing housing support, poor coordination between concerned government sectors, and no clear criteria for support priorities. This study highlights the need for developing an effective partnership for the housing support system for orphans, starting with building a clear strategic plan to support them based on three main principles: the incubation environment, infrastructure, and beneficiaries.

The Burden of Sickle Cell Disease in Saudi Arabia: A Single-Institution Large Retrospective Study.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a significant burden for patients and healthcare systems due to multiple factors, including high readmission rates. This study aimed to determine the general characteristics, etiology of admissions, annual admission rate, length of stay, and readmission rate of patients with SCD. This retrospective observational study included all adult patients with SCD admitted to the General Internal Medicine (GIM) unit between 2016 and 2021. There were 160 patients (mean age, 31.08 ± 9.06 years; 51.25% female) with SCD included in this study. Most originated from southern Saudi Arabia (45.62%). The average annual number of emergency department (ED) visits was 4, and approximately 19% of patients had ≥3 annual admissions. The mean length of stay was 6 days. The readmission rates at 7, 30, 60, and 90 days were 8%, 24.5%, 13.6%, and 10.8%, respectively. SCD generates a significant economic burden on the Saudi society and the effects on the healthcare system and patients' quality of life are evident in the high ED visits, readmission rates and prolonged hospitalization. Thereupon we advocate the implementation of sickle cell disease-specialized multidisciplinary clinics.

The Effect of Social Media on Arabic Vocabulary in the Saudi Society

The Effect of Social Media on Arabic Vocabulary in the Saudi Society

The 9th annual saudi society for rheumatology conferenceabstracts presented at the 9th SSRC 2023

The 9^th annual saudi society for rheumatology conferenceabstracts presented at the 9^th SSRC 2023

Motivations and Obstacles to Women's Creativity in Arab Society from the Point of View of Academic Women in Saudi Universities in Riyadh

This study aimed to identify the drivers and obstacles to women's creativity in the Arab society from the point of view of the academics in Saudi universities in Riyadh,. To achieve the objectives of the study, the descriptive survey approach was used. The study ends with a set of findings, the most prominent of which are: that political and systemic drivers are at the forefront of the motivations for women’s creativity in Saudi society, foremost among which is the reliance of the Kingdom’s 2030 vision on women on an equal basis with men in achieving leadership based on innovation and creativity. As for social drives, they came in third place, and at the main is: Supporting thought and opinion leaders for creative Saudi women. Finally, the fourth was the economic and financial drives, and the most important were: State support for Saudi women's projects in the field of entrepreneurship. Regarding the obstacles to the creativity of Saudi women the economic and financial obstacles topped them, the most important were: the weakness of the orientation towards creative industries and benefiting from the creative capabilities of Saudi women in them, and the lack of sufficient capital to finance. This was followed by social and cultural obstacles, mainly; customs and traditions, and the very conservative socialization, Then the obstacles associated with the personality of the Saudi women, Then the fifth one was the systemic obstacles.

Index of Tolerance Values of Saudi Society Individuals: Methodological Construct and Conceptual Framework

Objective: Tolerance is considered one of the most important values in any society. The present study aimed to validate the Tolerance Index on the Saudi society. Method: A 2019 Tolerance Index (56 items) by the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue was used. A total of 1071 participants completed the survey. The sample was randomly selected using geographical sampling. The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to validate the Tolerance Index. Result: The principal components analysis, along with the orthogonal rotation matrix (Varimax rotation) revealed that 35 items of the Tolerance Index were loaded on six main factors: twelve items were loaded onto two social and cultural factors; eight items were loaded onto two economic factors; four items were loaded onto one political factor; and 11 items were loaded onto one religious factor. Conclusion: The Tolerance Index is valid and is a reliable index that can be used in the Saudi society.

Recommendations for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Saudi Arabia: adolopment of the 2021 American College of Rheumatology guidelines

BackgroundThe 2021 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) guideline considers the specific context of the United States which differs from that of Saudi Arabia in many aspects that may impact recommendations. The objective of this project was to adapt a set of prioritized recommendations from the 2021 ACR guideline for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis RA for the context of Saudi Arabia, by the Saudi Society for Rheumatology (SSR).MethodsThe process followed the GRADE-ADOLOPMENT methodology, and the reporting adhered to the RIGHT-Ad@pt checklist. Working groups included a coordination group and a 19-member panel representing different stakeholder groups. The Evidence to Decision (EtD) tables included evidence on health effects from the source guideline and contextual information from the Saudi setting.ResultsThe panel prioritized and adapted five recommendations from the source guideline. The process led to modifying two out of the five prioritized recommendations, all listed here. In naive patients with low disease activity, methotrexate (MTX) is conditionally recommended over sulfasalazine (SSZ) (modified direction); hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is conditionally recommended over SSZ (unmodified). Initiation of csDMARDs with short-term glucocorticoids is conditionally recommended over csDMARDs alone in naive patients with moderate to high disease activity (modified direction). Switch to subcutaneous MTX is conditionally recommended over addition/switch to alternative DMARD(s) in patients taking oral MTX who are not at target (unmodified). Discontinuation of MTX is conditionally recommended over gradual discontinuation of the bDMARD or tsDMARD for patients taking MTX plus a bDMARD or tsDMARD who wish to discontinue a DMARD (unmodified).ConclusionRheumatologists practicing in Saudi Arabia can use the adoloped recommendations generated by this project while adopting the rest of the recommendations from the 2021 ACR guidelines.

Saudi Arabia consensus guidance for the diagnosis and management of adults with inflammatory bowel disease.

Optimal management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) relies on a clear understanding and tailoring evidence-based interventions by clinicians in partnership with patients. This article provides concise guidelines for the management of IBD in adults, based on the most up-to-date information at the time of writing and will be regularly updated. These guidelines were developed by the Saudi Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Saudi Gastroenterology Association and the Saudi Society of Clinical Pharmacy. After an extensive literature review, 78 evidence-and expert opinion-based recommendations for diagnosing and treating ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in adults were proposed and further refined by a voting process. The consensus guidelines include the finally agreed on statements with their level of evidence covering different aspects of IBD diagnosis and treatment.

Burden of COVID-19 infection and lockdown measures on individuals with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia: A national population-based study

BackgroundThe recent COVID-19 crisis has placed a huge strain on the global health and economy. The toll of the damage on the human society exceeds the morbidity and mortality of the pandemic and the associated burden, considering the multidimensional impact on all aspects of life. ObjectivesThe present study assessed the specific impact of COVID-19 on individuals with chronic diseases including the Years Lost for Disability (YLD) burden of COVID-19 infection, and multidimensional impact on the disease management, adaptive lifestyle, and socioeconomic dimensions. MethodA national, population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adult Saudi population. An internet-based questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the management of the chronic disease, adaptive lifestyle, and impact of COVID-19 on family members. Additionally, data regarding eventual COVID-19 infection, severity and management were collected. YLD was estimated and normalized per 100,000 persons. ResultHaving a chronic disease was not associated with a greater risk of COVID-19 (relative risk [RR]=0.83, p = 0.153); however, it was associated with higher risk of declined physical activity (RR=1.30, p < 0.0001), deteriorated eating habit (RR=1.20, p = 0.002), sleep quality (RR=1.25, p < 0.0001), and overall health perception (RR=1.61, p < 0.0001), loss of family members due to COVID-19 (RR=1.96, p = 0.0001), and impacted household income (RR=1.11, p = 0.010). In case of COVID-19 infection, having a chronic disease was associated with increased risk of hospitalization (RR=5.04, p = 0.005) and having a moderate-to-severe form of COVID-19 (RR=6.00, p = 0.013). The overall YLD was estimated to be 17.7 per 100,000 individuals, and there was no significant difference between individuals with chronic diseases and those without. ConclusionCOVID-19 entailed a substantial burden on the Saudi society in 2020, and individuals with preexisting chronic diseases suffered more important multidimensional impact, which need further research to assess the real impact of the pandemic and draw the pertinent lessons from the experience for future possible epidemics.