SACM - United Kingdom
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9667
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Item Restricted An Exploration of Occupational Therapists’ Understanding of Mental Health in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Investigation.(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-03-03) Alrashidi, Raiyad Abbad D Alrashidi; Whitcombe, SteveObjectives: This study explores the understanding of mental health among occupational therapists in Saudi Arabia. The objectives of the research were to examine the professional and cultural factors that influence occupational therapists’ perceptions of mental health, to assess opportunities and challenges faced by occupational therapists working in mental health settings and to explore the perceived value and role of occupational therapy in mental health care in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This study used an exploratory- descriptive qualitative approach. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews from eight occupational therapists practising in Saudi Arabia. The data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, a framework that facilitated identification and development of key themes. Findings: The findings were categorised into four main themes. Firstly, occupational therapists’ perceptions of mental health. The study revealed varying levels of understanding and awareness of mental health which attributed to lack of professional training in this area. Secondly, inadequacies in training and education showed the need for improved professional development opportunities in mental health among occupational therapists in Saudi Arabia. The third theme examined current challenges and cultural influences in that occupational therapists in Saudi Arabia face systematic barriers since there are no policies to support their role in mental health. They are challenges related to stigma surrounding mental health and limited collaboration between OTs and other healthcare professionals. The final theme centred on future perspectives and recommendations, where participants advocated for increased awareness of their role - occupational therapy in mental health situations. There is a need for policy reforms and integration of occupational therapy into mental health services through professional training. Conclusion: This study provides information on whether mental health has been integrated into occupational therapy in Saudi Arabia and examines the opportunities and challenges facing OT professionals working in the mental health field. The study highlights the importance of addressing challenges such as cultural and systematic barriers limiting the integration of metal health in OT and a need to enhance education opportunities promoting the role of occupational therapy in mental health. The findings of this study will inform future policies and research that will support the integration of mental health into occupational therapy.4 0Item Restricted A Focused Ethnographic Study on Kangaroo care of Preterm Infants in a Neonatal Intensive care Unit in Saudi Arabia(University of Dundee, 2025) Almutairi, Amal; McFadden Alison ، Gavine Anna, Malcolm CariBackground: Kangaroo Care (KC), a globally recognised practice involving skin-to-skin contact (SSC) between parents and their preterm infants, is widely endorsed for its physiological, neurobehavioral, developmental, and parental benefits. Despite its significant role in improving survival rates and promoting bonding and breastfeeding, the implementation of KC varies across healthcare settings, often influenced by organisational, practical, and resource-related factors. To initiate this study, a systematic review of the literature was conducted, highlighting a research gap in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), including Saudi Arabia, where cultural and organisational factors may pose additional barriers to KC adoption. Moreover, KC in Saudi Arabia remains underutilised and insufficiently studied, particularly in NICU setting. Aim: This PhD aimd to explore how KC was perceived, practiced by parents and HCPs in one NICU. It sought to provide insights into the factors that influenced KC implementation, examining the cultural, contextual, and organisational processes, as well as the challenges and opportunities for integrating KC as a standard practice in Saudi neonatal care. Design and methods: A focused ethnographic study was conducted in a large neonatal unit in Saudi Arabia. Data generation, employing purposive sampling with maximum variation, was carried out in three iterative steps: observations and fieldnotes, interviews and a focus group, and document collection. One hundred and fifty hours of observations, 13 interviews with parents (n=13), and 15 interviews and one focus group with HCPs (n=19), and documentary analysis were conducted. Reflexive thematic analysis adapted from Braun and Clarke, (2021) was applied informed by a social-ecological model and family integrated care model. Findings: The systematic review showed generally positive attitudes toward KC among HCPs but identified barriers, including unclear guidelines, staff shortages, and inadequate training. Parents were often uninformed about KC and relied on HCPs for guidance. Practical challenges, such as discomfort with prolonged KC, medical equipment, and lack of private spaces, hindered implementation. The ethnographic study found parents were often unaware of KC before their NICU experience, relying heavily on HCPs for guidance. Initial apprehension, driven by their infants’ fragility and the medicalised NICU environment, highlighted the lack of formal KC training among both parents and HCPs. A hierarchical NICU structure prioritised physician-led decision-making, limiting nurses’ autonomy and excluding parents, particularly in unstable infant cases. Cultural norms, including modesty expectations and traditional gender roles, restricted paternal involvement, while religious practices and open NICU layouts added barriers. Restrictive visitation policies, rigid routines, and an overemphasis on hygiene protocols led to KC being viewed as supplementary rather than integral, deviating from WHO guidelines promoting prolonged SSC. Organisational barriers like inconsistent policies and inadequate staffing further impeded KC implementation. Facilitators included supportive HCP attitudes, particularly among those with international experience, and private NICU spaces that encouraged greater parental participation. Conclusions and implications: The findings of this study emphasise the need for culturally informed, systemic changes to integrate KC as a routine practise of neonatal care in this NICU. There is need for integrating KC into healthcare education, policies, and practices through mandatory training for HCPs, parental education, and infrastructural improvements to ensure privacy. Aligning NICU protocols with WHO guidelines and FiCare can address organisational and cultural barriers, enhancing KC adoption and neonatal outcomes. Future research should focus on scaling up KC implementation, standardising practices, and exploring strategies to promote consistent adherence to evidence-based guidelines.6 0Item Restricted Responsibility for Online Harms: A Critical Analysis of Cyber Governance in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-03) Alsaiedi, Yara M; Basu, Subhajit; Walker, CliveThis thesis investigates the topic of internet governance within the context of Saudi Arabia. It focuses on the component of ‘Responsibility’ for internet governance when applied to the policy area of combating online harms. As such, the research work investigates and evaluates the present framework of responsibility devised to address online harms, considering the assemblage which regulates online content and cybersecurity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This approach aims to facilitate the prevention and mitigation of the harmful effects of online activities and content, thereby aligning with the objectives outlined in the Saudi state’s long-term project known as Vision 2030. The thesis adopts the hypothesis that effectively addressing online harms requires a primary objective of establishing a robust responsibility structure. This method can best be achieved by facilitating the active participation of all stakeholders in the strategic deployment of responsive – including preventive – measures. Consequently, the thesis advocates a multistakeholderism approach with reference to governance for the prevention and mitigation of online harms in Saudi Arabia. It evaluates the effectiveness and fairness of the responsibility structure in fostering cybersecurity and mitigating the harmful effects of online content in the Saudi context. The formal study employs semi-structured interviews with elite figures and authorities from governmental and private organisations, internet content and service providers, as well as corporate users, which are the small and medium enterprises (SME) as internet users. Additionally, it integrates the policy transfer methodology to draw insights from the experiences of the United Kingdom in the realm of internet governance. In sum, the thesis proposes areas of improvement to develop a comprehensive online harms governance framework in Saudi Arabia. Such amendments are expected to contribute to the recognition and realisation of the declared Vision 2030 goals related to internet governance in the Saudi realm.3 0Item Restricted The Ianguage Attitudes of Saudi Arabic Speakers Towards the Speech of Other Major Vernacular Varieties of Arabic(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-03-03) Albogami, Haitham; Griffiths, MarkLanguage attitudes research in Saudi Arabia is in its early stages, and rarely goes beyond the boundaries of Saudi Arabia. There remains a gap in our knowledge of Saudis' attitudes towards non-Saudi dialects. This study examines Saudi Arabic speakers’ attitudes toward the speech of five major vernacular varieties of Arabic: Gulf, Iraqi, Levantine, Egyptian, and Maghrebi. The findings revealed a clear hierarchy of attitudes. Gulf Arabic was rated the highest across most labels, while Maghrebi Arabic was the lowest. Iraqi, Levantine and Egyptian competed in the middle spots, with an association of humour and closeness to MSA with Egyptian and Levantine Arabic respectively. Using a verbal guise technique (VGT) combined with a semantic differential scale and ranking tasks, this study collected and analysed quantitative and qualitative data from Saudi participants. The results suggested that attitudes toward these dialects are influenced by a combination of linguistic, sociopolitical, and cultural factors. Exploratory Factor Analyses were conducted on the five speakers, revealing five different dimensional models. These factor structures uncovered patterns of attitudes, offering a deeper look into stereotypes associated with the five varieties. By integrating culture-specific constructs (e.g., Sadr al-Majlis as a social status indicator), this study highlights the need for culture-appropriate instruments in language attitudes research. The findings highlight how media, cultural proximity, and stereotypes shape these attitudes.9 0Item Restricted Exploring Physiotherapists' Perceptions and Practices in the Use of Psychological Interventions in Sports Rehabilitation in Saudi Arabia: A Survey Study(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-02-24) Alharbi, Abdulelah; Knott, SianBackground: Sports injuries impact athletes both physically and psychologically, causing issues like anxiety, depression, and fear of re-injury. Incorporating psychological interventions and emotional support in rehabilitation enhances recovery outcomes. Physiotherapists, due to their close interaction with athletes, play a key role in addressing these psychological aspects and providing comprehensive care. Aim of the study: Explore the psychological interventions in sports injury rehabilitation among physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia, focusing on their practices, perceptions, and referral behaviours. Design: A quantitative descriptive survey study. Methods: This study included 160 physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia, with 53.8% (n = 86) males and 46.3% (n = 74) females. The Physiotherapist and Sport Psychology Questionnaire (PSPQ) was distributed through social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn, between 29 October 2024 and 29 November 2024. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results: A total of 18.1% of physiotherapists reported "always" observing psychological impacts on athletes following injuries, with 36.3% observing this "often." Over half (53.8%) of physiotherapists rated addressing the psychological aspects of injuries as "extremely important." Athletes who coped successfully with injuries were commonly characterized by "realistic expectations" (M = 5.04, SD = 2.260) and "patience with themselves" (M = 5.00, SD = 2.226). In contrast, poor coping was associated with traits such as "anger/aggression" (M = 5.54, SD = 2.166) and "poor concentration" (M = 5.07, SD = 2.108). Among the most frequently employed techniques were “encouraging effective communication” (M = 4.40, SD = 0.841), “enhancing self-confidence” (M = 4.29, SD = 0.908), and “setting short-term goals” (M = 4.26, SD = 0.894), all of which were described as "always used." Additionally, the techniques physiotherapists most valued for further development included “setting realistic goals” (M = 4.40, SD = 0.841) and “enhancing self-confidence” (M = 4.29, SD = 0.908). Despite this, 85.6% lacked access to sports psychologists, 80% had never referred athletes, and 89.4% reported an absence of referral guidelines. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant psychological impact of injuries on athletes, as observed by physiotherapists. Physiotherapists demonstrated a high awareness of the importance of addressing the psychological aspects of rehabilitation. Skills such as “setting realistic goals” and “enhancing self-confidence” were identified as the most valued techniques for both current use and further learning. However, the lack of access to sports psychologists and the absence of formal referral guidelines remain major barriers, with most physiotherapists reporting no referrals or collaboration with psychologists. These findings emphasize the urgent need to integrate psychological support into sports injury rehabilitation to improve outcomes for athletes.3 0Item Restricted The impact of IT flexibility and IT capability on Business-IT strategic alignment: An empirical study in Saudi Arabia(The University of Manchseter, 2025) Alharbi, Nawal Olayan; Mamman, AminuPublic and private organisations face many challenges to attain the objectives of providing services and products to their clients. Most organisations adopt many enablers customised technological tools to tackle their unique operational issues and achieve their strategic goals. Therefore, IT is considered one of the most enablers for organisations to help overcome their challenges. Higher education institutions have developed strategies and are relying more on their IT systems in delivering most of services to their stakeholders. The roles of IT strategy and business strategy in any organisation are often incorporated. However, the organisations’ objectives are likely not to be attained if the business strategy and IT strategy are not aligned in an effective manner. Business and IT strategic alignment has been considered as IT application in which match the business objectives, goals, and requirements. To improve the efficiency and performance of alignment, IT flexibility and IT capability provide a robust lens to assess their impact on organisational objectives. Although, strategic alignment has been the interest of many researchers, investigation of such issue in Saudi higher education sector is still to be undertaken. To address this issue, the aim of this study was to examine how IT is used in Saudi Arabian higher education to attain their organisational objectives. This aim was pursued by meeting the following objectives: First, to investigate the connection between flexibility and capability of IT dimensions. Second, to investigate the effect of IT flexibility and IT capability on the business strategy and IT strategic alignment. Third, to investigate how business strategy and IT strategic alignment have influenced organisational performance. The research employed the University of Hail as a case study to conduct an extensive examination of IT flexibility, IT capability, and IT strategic alignment with business strategy. A qualitative research approach was utilised to collect data through various methods, including interviews and document analysis. The study participants comprised the Deanship, Strategy department, IT department, Heads of Schools, faculty members and students. This study found a significant shift from viewing IT as merely a support function to recognising it as a strategic enabler for achieving organisational goals. It delved into the interrelated nature of IT flexibility, IT capability, business-IT strategic alignment, and organisational performance. These interconnections allowed the organisation to effectively leverage IT for performance enhancements, as evidenced by improvements in key areas such as student services, research output, administrative efficiency, and university ranking. The study made a significant contribution to addressing gaps in IT research and enhanced the understanding of educational and business organisations regarding the effective implementation of Business-IT strategic alignment.30 0Item Embargo Evaluating Audit Quality through Audit Quality Disclosure: An Examination of Audit Committee Practices in Saudi Arabia(Royal Holloway, University of London, 2025-02) Almutawa, Waleed; Napier, Christopher; Stadler, ChristianThis thesis explores current practices that audit committee members and audit committee attendees (ACMs) from a developing nation, Saudi Arabia, perform when trying to evaluate the audit quality of the audit firm. It also examines current approaches and challenges encountered while utilizing Key Audit Matters (KAMs) and Transparency Reports (TRs), and the necessity for Audit Quality Indicators (AQIs) (referred to as the audit quality disclosure). I conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 29 ACMs and those who have influence over the practices of the audit committee. I used documents to triangulate different sources and add credibility and trustworthiness to the findings. Theoretically, the study draws on the institutional logics perspective to understand the logic behind the current practices and beliefs. This study found that ACMs mainly use signals and clues that are obtained through the public domain, proposals, private sources, interactions with the auditors, and audit outputs to assess audit quality. The findings clearly show the predominance of professional logic among the majority of ACMs, and naïve stakeholder logic among ACMs of small companies and ACMs who lack audit literacy in large companies. The majority of the study participants do not utilize KAMs and TRs and do not support disclosing AQIs as transparency logic tools for assessing audit quality, although some younger interviewees show some inclination towards them. This thesis aims to broaden our understanding of the crucial role that audit committees are expected to play, particularly in evaluating audit quality. This role was broadly investigated in the audit committee effectiveness literature before. Furthermore, existing research on KAMs and TRs has largely overlooked their use in evaluating audit quality. Additionally, the literature on AQIs is scant, focusing mainly on identifying suitable AQIs and assessing their impact. Thus, this study attempts to shed light on these neglected but important realms of research.24 0Item Restricted The Challenges and Opportunities in Organisational Arrangements for Disaster Preparedness during Hajj(Coventry, 2025) ALdwsari, Mater; shibani, AbdualssalmPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the challenges and opportunities in the organisational arrangements for disaster preparedness during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. This paper explores the complexities of managing disaster risks during this mass gathering event, focusing on operational frameworks, stakeholder coordination, and the integration of modern technologies. Design/methodology/approach – This research was undertaken from a secondary approach and analysed existing literature, government reports, and past incident case studies for Hajj. It evaluated inter-agency coordination, health preparedness, and technology use for the management of risks and how disasters could possibly improve response during the pilgrimage period. Findings – The major challenges that really come forth comprise but are not restricted to the following: poor inter-institutional co-operation; very little application of some digital technologies; and impeding the rich social and cultural diversity regarding the stakeholders under consideration. On the contrary, available opportunities would include the following areas: better disaster simulation, improvement in public health strategies, and efficient crowd control and emergency response operations by using technology. Practical implications – The report presented some recommendations on enhancing organizational arrangements for disaster preparedness during Hajj. It includes creating a centralized command structure, investing in integrating technology, offering cultural competency training for stakeholdersin more disaster simulation exercises to boost operational readiness. Originality/value – This working paper uniquely reflects the study of preparedness for disaster in the Hajj pilgrimage in operational management challenges as well as opportunities for improvements. Findings and recommendations are useful for other large-event management and disaster preparedness exercises across the world.43 0Item Restricted The Entrepreneurial Orientation of Females in Saudi Arabia: The Associations with Informal and Formal Institutions(University of Glasgow, 2025-05) AlMarri, Salem; Wei, Yang; Trevor, BuckWhile entrepreneurship is considered a critical factor in developing economies, it is essential to note that the focus on entrepreneurship has broadened from investigating key individual characteristics influencing entrepreneurship to exploring the influence of institutional factors such as policies, education, financial support and other informal factors. Therefore, this study examined the impact of national culture (NC) represented by Hofstede’s dimensions, namely power distance tolerance (PD), uncertainty avoidance (UA), individualism (IND), masculinity (MAS) and long-term orientation (LTO), on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) among female Saudi entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia. The study also examined the moderating effect of access to finance (ATF) on the relationship between cultural dimensions and EO. The study revealed valuable results, including the fact that female entrepreneurs reported a quite different set of cultural values from those of Saudi Arabia as a whole, and that their IND and MAS positively influenced their EO respectively. In contrast, their LTO, UA and PD showed no significant association with EO. Furthermore, the hypothesised moderating effect of ATF on the relationships between NC and EO was not supported. The findings emphasise various important conclusions. For example, as ATF was not significant here, there may be a need to provide comprehensive support systems to enhance EO, such as mentorship programmes, customised entrepreneurial training, and other market access initiatives. Saudi policymakers may focus on combining financial and non-financial support, including capacity-building and support, which can be done by developing multi- faceted strategies that enhance entrepreneurial ecosystems and manage entrepreneurs' challenges. Furthermore, multi-faceted strategies developed by policymakers may wish to address gender-specific challenges by implementing tailored entrepreneurial training programmes, increasing female representation in leadership roles, and creating inclusive networking opportunities.38 0Item Restricted Addressing risk, challenges, and solutions in Megaprojects: A case study of Neom Smart City in Saudi Arabia(leeds beckett university, 2024) Alluqmani, Waleed Salem; Omotayo, TemitopeNeom Smart City is designed as a high-tech city with sustainable living and renewable energy sources such as solar power and autonomous transportation systems. The City aims to become an attractive destination for talents and investment Mega Projects are more common in the 21st century due to global population growth, urbanisation, and technological innovation that requires the establishment of big projects. The aim of this research is to focus on risks, challenges, and solutions that may occur at the Neom Smart City project in KSA, and provide insights for the effective management of megaprojects. A positivist philosophy and a deductive research approach was used in this research. The overarching methodology was quantitative. The data-gathering procedure involved questionnaire instruments. The sample involved twenty participants including project managers, while the data analysis technique used was descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS and crucial ethical considerations were confidentiality and informed consent. Descriptive analysis of the findings have revealed that the participants perceived financial risks to be the most important concerns, followed by legal and construction risks. The result from the study also shows poor planning, political failures, and the lack of high-performing teams were the most significant contributor to the failure of megaprojects. The inferential statistics have revealed that there is a significant positive correlation between design risks and legal risks, contractual risks, construction risks and operational management risks. Financial risks are linked to construction risks, political risks, and leadership risks. Empirically, financial risks are influenced by contractual risks, poor leadership, and poor planning. The outcomes also suggest that stakeholder collaboration has a statistically significant impact on construction risks.7 0