Health Education in Saudi Arabia: Historical overview

2020

BMC Med Educ

Background As increasing the number of organ donations presents a global challenge, Saudi Arabia is no different. Intensivists can play a major role in maximizing the organ donation process and minimize the challenges. The purpose of this study was to investigate Saudi pediatric intensivists’ comfort and importance levels of organ donation competencies. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey whose sampling frame included 100 pediatric intensivists. The pediatrician intensivists were identified through an updated list provided by the Saudi Critical Care Society. We assessed 14 competencies categorized into four domains: the general donation, donation after brain death (DBD), neurological determination of death, and medicolegal, religious, and ethical domains. Then we investigated the association between these competencies and physicians’ characteristics. Results With a response rate of 76%, we found that 40–60% of the surveyed pediatric intensivists rated their comfort in 6 out of 14 competencies as high or very high. There was a statistically significant gap in the intensivists’ rating of 10 competencies (i.e., high importance but low comfort levels). Ordinal regression showed that comfort levels with the general donation, neurological determination of death, and medicolegal, religious, and ethical domains were higher in intensivists who were frequently involved with DBD than those who had never been exposed. Conclusions Pediatric intensivists expressed low comfort levels to organ donation competencies that are essential for maximizing donation rates. Adapting mandatory comprehensive donation education programs and dedicated physician specialists may be beneficial in critical care units aiming to increase donation rates.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing comfort level of organ donation competencies among pediatric intensivists in Saudi Arabia: a national survey

2020

BMC Med Educ

“…The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) is the governmental body responsible for developing, approving, and supervising professional postgraduate medical education programs in the nation [39]. The SCFHS included brain death evaluation and certi cation, as well as principles of organ donation and transplantation, in the mandatory objectives of critical care fellowship [40].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing comfort level of organ donation competencies among pediatric intensivists in Saudi Arabia: A national survey

2020

Preprint

Background: As increasing the number of organ donations presents a global challenge, Saudi Arabia is no different. Intensivists can play a major role in maximizing the organ donation process and minimize the challenges. The purpose of this study was to investigate Saudi pediatric intensivists’ comfort and importance levels of organ donation competencies.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey whose sampling frame included 100 pediatric intensivists. The pediatrician intensivists were identified through an updated list provided by the Saudi Critical Care Society. We assessed 14 competencies categorized into four domains: the general donation, donation after brain death (DBD), neurological determination of death, and medicolegal, religious, and ethical domains. Then we investigated the association between these competencies and physicians’ characteristics.Results: With a response rate of 76%, we found that 40%–60% of the surveyed pediatric intensivists rated their comfort in 6 out of 14 competencies as high or very high. There was a statistically significant gap in the intensivists’ rating of 10 competencies (i.e., high importance but low comfort levels). Ordinal regression showed that comfort levels with the general donation, neurological determination of death, and medicolegal, religious, and ethical domains were higher in intensivists who were frequently involved with DBD than those who had never been exposed.Conclusions: Pediatric intensivists expressed low comfort levels to organ donation competencies that are essential for maximizing donation rates. Adapting mandatory comprehensive donation education programs and dedicated physician specialists may be beneficial in critical care units aiming to increase donation rates.

“…The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) is the governmental body responsible for developing, approving, and supervising professional postgraduate medical education programs in the nation [28]. The SCFHS included brain death evaluation and certification, as well as principles of organ donation and transplantation, in the mandatory objectives of critical care fellowship [29].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing perceived organ donation competencies among pediatric intensivists in Saudi Arabia: A national survey

2020

Preprint

Background As increasing the number of organ donations presents a global challenge, and Saudi Arabia is no different, Intensivists can play a major role in the process. The purpose of this study was to investigate Saudi pediatric intensivists’ perception of their comfort and the importance of organ donation competencies. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey whose sampling frame included 100 pediatric intensivists. We assessed 14 competencies categorized into four domains: the general donation, donation after brain death (DBD), neurological determination of death, and medicolegal, religious, and ethical domains. Then we investigated the association between these competencies and physicians’ characteristics. Results With a response rate of 76%, we found that 40–60% of the surveyed pediatric intensivists rated their comfort in 6 out of 14 competencies as high or very high. There was a statistically significant gap in the intensivists’ perception of 10 competencies (i.e., high importance but low comfort levels). Ordinal regression showed that comfort levels with the general donation, neurological determination of death, and medicolegal, religious, and ethical domains were higher in intensivists who were frequently involved with DBD than those who had never been exposed. Conclusions Pediatric intensivists expressed low comfort levels with organ donation competencies. The pediatric intensive care community should invest in educational opportunities in the country to boost the low levels of organ donation.