Understanding the Impact of Digital Health Strategies During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia

Alhodaib, Hala; Alanzi, Turki

doi:10.2147/rmhp.s331084

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…However, studies [ 5 – 8 ] have identified issues in mHealth implementation in Saudi Arabia such as lack of awareness of mHealth among the citizens, and lack of facilitating conditions. In addition, varying levels of accessibility, utilization, and perceptions of digital health technologies were identified across different population groups in Saudi Arabia [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Users’ satisfaction levels about mHealth applications in post-Covid-19 times in Saudi Arabia

Alanzi

2022

PLoS ONE

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Purpose This study aims to investigate the users’ satisfaction levels about mHealth applications and their intentions to use them in future (in post-Covid-19 times) in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional survey design was adopted in this study. The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ)22 was used in this study. An online version of the survey was created using Google Surveys, and a link for the survey was generated. As the objective of this study is to assess the users’ satisfaction levels about mHealth applications and their intentions to use them in future (in post-Covid-19 times) in Saudi Arabia, all individuals who used or using mHealth applications will be included in this study. At the end of the survey time period, 318 responses were received. Results Items including ’easy to learn using the app’ (mean rating = 3.9), ’easy to find information on the application’(mean rating = 3.9), ’interface of the app’ (mean rating = 3.8) were rated to be highly effective by the participants.). However, ability to recover from mistakes while using the applications (mean rating = 2.9), inconsistency in navigation (mean rating = 2.9), and lack of all necessary functions (mean rating = 2.3) were few issues identified. No statistically significant difference of opinions was observed in relation to all sub-scales of usability factor. Conclusion Although the satisfaction levels are good with respect to mHealth applications, the sudden rise in the mHealth users can be partly linked to the several psychological issues such as anxiety and depression among people and also because of restricted access during the pandemic.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Users’ satisfaction levels about mHealth applications in post-Covid-19 times in Saudi Arabia

Alanzi

2022

PLoS ONE

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“…This allowed flexibility to meet the first-line needs while maintaining dutyhour regulations. In Saudi Arabia, a study revealed that policymakers promoted digital health solutions to improve access to care despite disruptions [81]. However, citizens reported problems with booking medications or equipment online and a lack of personalized virtual care, highlighting the disparities in utilization between the groups that policies must address.…”

Section: Hospital Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reviews of hospital pandemic plans identify common policy domains, such as staff training on updated safety protocols, reducing non-urgent visits and procedures, estab- In Saudi Arabia, a study revealed that policymakers promoted digital health solutions to improve access to care despite disruptions [81]. However, citizens reported problems with booking medications or equipment online and a lack of personalized virtual care, highlighting the disparities in utilization between the groups that policies must address.…”

Section: Hospital Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing Surgical Care Amidst COVID-19: A Scoping Review of Practices and Policies

Alzerwi,

Rayzah,

Alnemare

et al. 2023

Healthcare

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Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic significantly disrupted surgical care worldwide, affecting different specialties in various ways. Lockdowns, surges in COVID-19 cases, and changes in hospital policies notably impacted patient attendance, management practices, and access to surgical services. This scoping review examines the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical services and the policies adopted to address these care barriers. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature review using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Our search, spanning 31 December 2019, to 29 January 2023, focused on understanding the multifaceted impacts of COVID-19 on surgical services, particularly across different specialties. Results: An analysis of 75 articles indicated that the pandemic challenged surgeons worldwide to maintain a balance between delivering emergency and elective surgical care, and implementing safety measures against viral transmission. There was a marked decline in the surgical volume, leading to extended waitlists and decreased operating theater usage. Strategies such as prioritizing medically necessary and time-sensitive surgeries and integrating telemedicine have emerged as pivotal for ensuring the continuity of urgent care. Despite the reduced rates, essential surgeries such as appendectomies and cancer-related operations continued, yet faced hurdles, including reduced staffing, limited operating theater capacity, and complications in patient transfers. Conclusions: This review emphasizes the steep reduction in surgical service utilization at the beginning of the pandemic and emergence of new compounded barriers. Policies that designated surgeries as essential, and focused on equitable and timely access, were effective. Incorporating these findings into post-pandemic assessments and future planning is crucial to sustain adequate surgical care during similar health emergencies.

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“…A recent study [ 8 ] has highlighted that lack of facilitating conditions in relation to eHealth has affected the trust among healthcare consumers. Furthermore, there were issues identified in relation to the formulation of eHealth policies and implementing them, as disparities were identified among the various population groups in terms of accessibility, utilization, and perceptions of digital health technologies [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes of Patients with Chronic Diseases toward Management eHealth Applications Systems in Post-COVID-19 Times

ALsharif

2022

IJERPH

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Introduction: There has been an increase in the adoption of eHealth technologies and applications by health consumers globally because of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years. The sudden change in the users’ attitudes toward eHealth adoption needs to be critically evaluated and understood, as it can be the stepping stone toward rapid digitalization of healthcare operations in Saudi Arabia as a part of Vision 2030. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of the patients with chronic diseases toward eHealth applications in post-COVID times. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted using the online questionnaire as a data collection instrument. All the health consumers using eHealth services aged above 18 years and living in Saudi Arabia were included in the survey. The survey was conducted for 3 weeks, resulting in a final sample of 234 participants. Results: Overall, 73.8% of the participants stated that they adopted eHealth only out of necessity, while 37.3% stated that they adopted it because no other services were available. Only 10.3% stated that they adopted eHealth out of interest. In relation to the future use of eHealth, 51.5% of the participants stated that they would definitely not use eHealth applications, and 33.6% stated that they would probably them once the pandemic ends. Only 4.4% of the participants stated that they would very much probably, and 10.5% stated they would probably not use eHealth applications once the pandemic ends. a significant difference in opinions in relation to the future adoption of eHealth applications was observed among the male and female participants, and also between the age groups of younger (age <35 years) and older (age ≥35 years) participants. Conclusions: For the change in attitudes (increased adoption of eHealth) to be sustained, policymakers need to develop relevant strategies promoting the use of eHealth in Saudi Arabia.

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Understanding the Impact of Digital Health Strategies During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia

Cited by 12 publications

References 39 publications

Users’ satisfaction levels about mHealth applications in post-Covid-19 times in Saudi Arabia

Users’ satisfaction levels about mHealth applications in post-Covid-19 times in Saudi Arabia

Optimizing Surgical Care Amidst COVID-19: A Scoping Review of Practices and Policies

Attitudes of Patients with Chronic Diseases toward Management eHealth Applications Systems in Post-COVID-19 Times

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