Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Smart Online Education Platform(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-05-16) Alhotan, Zyad; Christine, KeriganThis thesis presents FHM, an innovative online design education platform tailored for Saudi and Arab learners. Bridging a critical gap in the regional e-learning landscape, FHM integrates four core elements: Arabic-first bilingual instruction, structured mentorship and community engagement, project-based learning with feedback loops, and adaptive pathways aligned with industry needs. The project combines cultural relevance with modern technology to empower Arab creatives through personalized, skill-driven education. Research, branding, UX/UI, motion design, and print deliverables were strategically developed to create a cohesive educational ecosystem. FHM directly supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by fostering local creative talent and enhancing access to world-class design learning rooted in cultural identity.15 0Item Restricted Enhancing Cardiac Arrest Management in Prehospital Settings in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-06-02) ALSAHLI, MUSAAD; Bowles, Kelly-AnnAim: This study aimed to evaluate the current challenges and practices in managing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on improving bystander intervention through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use. The research sought to assess public knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to CPR and AED utilization to provide evidence based recommendations for strengthening prehospital cardiac arrest response. Methods: A Quantitative approach was employed, combining a comprehensive literature review with a cross-sectional survey. The literature review analyzed peer-reviewed studies, national reports, and international guidelines on OHCA management in Saudi Arabia and comparable contexts. The survey, conducted online, included 229 Saudi residents aged 18 years or older, assessing demographics, CPR knowledge, AED awareness, willingness to act, and perceived barriers. Data were analyzed descriptively, and logistic regression identified factors influencing bystander willingness to perform CPR. Results: The survey revealed that while 70% of respondents expressed willingness to perform CPR, only 33% were very familiar with CPR steps, and 48% recognized AEDs. Key barriers included fear of causing harm (54%), legal concerns (31%), and reluctance to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation (12%). Prior CPR training and exposure to awareness campaigns significantly increased willingness to act (OR = 2.4, *p* = 0.05). Urban-rural disparities were noted, with rural areas exhibiting lower awareness of CPR campaigns (20% vs. 33% in urban centers). Qualitative feedback emphasized the need for practical training, increased AED availability, and legal reassurance to encourage bystander action. Conclusion: The study highlights critical gaps in public preparedness for OHCA response in Saudi Arabia, including insufficient CPR knowledge, low AED awareness, and persistent cultural and legal barriers. To address these challenges, the study recommends integrating CPR training into school curricula, expanding AED deployment in public spaces, launching nationwide awareness campaigns, and implementing dispatcher-assisted CPR protocols. Strengthening community engagement and leveraging technology, such as volunteer responder apps, could further enhance the "Chain of Survival" and improve OHCA outcomes. These measures align with global best practices and offer a roadmap for reducing preventable deaths from cardiac arrest in Saudi Arabia.28 0Item Restricted Mapping the Fashion Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Impacts on Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises(RMIT University, 2025-03) Alharbi, Marwah; Tan, Caroline; Quintero Rodriguez, CarolinaThis thesis investigates the influence of the Fashion Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (FEE) on Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) and Business Performance (BP) within fashion Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Saudi Arabia. The study adopts a mixed-methods explanatory design, integrating a quantitative survey with 223 fashion MSMEs and qualitative interviews with 15 ecosystem stakeholders. Drawing on the Resource-Based View (RBV), EO defined through innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking, is conceptualised as a core intangible resource that mediates the relationship between external ecosystem elements and firm success. The quantitative phase employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the direct and mediating effects of FEE on EO and BP. The results revealed that FEE has a significant positive impact on both EO and BP. EO also showed a strong direct effect on BP and partially mediated the relationship between FEE and BP. These findings underscore the strategic importance of EO in enhancing business outcomes and demonstrate the role of the ecosystem in shaping entrepreneurial capacities. The qualitative phase utilised thematic analysis to explore how fashion entrepreneurs and ecosystem actors experience and interpret the FEE. Key challenges identified include limited access to finance, insufficient entrepreneurial education, misaligned support structures, and persistent cultural stigma associated with fashion entrepreneurship. The study also highlights the mismatch between existing support services often designed for technology sectors and the specific needs of fashion startups. Additional barriers were found in rural accessibility, institutional support, and gendered constraints. Overall, the findings offer a context-specific understanding of the Saudi FEE and its role in shaping EO and BP. The research contributes theoretical insights into the RBV and EO literature and provides practical recommendations aligned with Vision 2030 to strengthen policy, education, and support mechanisms in Saudi Arabia’s creative economy.9 0Item Restricted An exploration of burnout in nurses working in intensive care in Saudi Arabia: An explanatory sequential mixed methods study(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-06-30) Altokhais, Abdulmajeed Saad; Principal supervisor, Professor Melanie Greenwood, and co-supervisor Dr Russell James.Nurses working in highly demanding and challenging environments, such as intensive care units, are prone to experiencing burnout compared to those in less demanding environments. In Saudi Arabia, the large number of nurses from other countries who work in intensive care contributes to the complexity of caring for critically ill people. Cultural complexity, high workloads and low morale may contribute to burnout in nurses, however how these factors affect nurse working in intensive care in Saudi Arabia is not well understood. Understanding these challenges, therefore, can help to mitigate burnout among nurses working in intensive care, improve patient outcomes, and assist recruitment and retention. This study aimed to investigate burnout among nurses working in the intensive care setting and to establish the factors which lead to burnout and which promote well-being and resilience among those nurses in Saudi Arabia. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used, and the data collection occurred across two phases. The first phase of the study sought to understand factors that contribute to nurses experiencing burnout. Paper-based questionnaires were distributed to nurses working in intensive care units across four tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, the capital of Saudia Arabia. The questionnaire contained two sections included the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS (MP)) scale used to explore the prevalence of burnout and the factors which contributed to the perception of burnout with the addition of participants’ demographic data and responses to the work characteristics questions. Data from the questionnaires were analysed using SPSS statistical software version 29. In Phase One, a total of 804 (80.4% response rate) nurses completed the questionnaire, with results indicating that more than half of the nurses experienced high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, while more than half of those surveyed experienced moderate to low levels of personal accomplishment within the workplace. The analysis of demographic and work characteristic data, along with the MBI-HSS (MP) subscales, indicated that several factors may lead to burnout in nurses working within the intensive care setting. The demographic factors that contributed were gender, age, marital status, living arrangements, number of children, and nationality, while the work characteristics that contributed were work experience, type of intensive care, daily working hours, number of night shifts per month and number of patients per shift, attempts to maintain personal well-being, feeling stressed going to work, access to emotional support, feeling valued at work, salary satisfaction, and intention to leave. The findings from Phase One informed Phase Two, which used semi-structured interviews to delve deeper into and comprehend factors which led to nurses’ feelings of burnout and to identify their personal resilience against burnout. The interviews with consenting participants were undertaken online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams and analysed using a thematic analysis framework. In Phase Two, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses who had completed the questionnaire and work in the intensive care setting. Three themes were identified from the thematic analysis: (i) “Being an intensive care nurse is challenging”; (ii) “The impact of the work upon me”; and (iii) “How I cope”. The first theme presented the nature of the work in intensive care settings in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the organisational challenges that participants encountered. The second theme reveals the physical, mental, psychosocial and professional impacts of working in intensive care in Saudi Arabia. The last theme captured the techniques participants used to cope with the challenges in the work environment. A pragmatic approach was used during data integration which influenced how this research was undertaken, presentation of the results and the structure of this thesis. Further, pragmatism helped explain the multiple realities that nurses encountered in their working environment in the intensive care setting in the cultural context of Saudi Arabia. The significant findings in this study are related to the unique cultural environment that exists in the nursing profession in Saudi Arabia and the interplay between the factors that contribute to and are protective against burnout. The contributing factors were the cultural and language challenges, which relied on nurses’ professional experience and adjustments to an altered scope of practice, and the protective factors, which included nurses’ capacity to build resilience, and how support systems created a complex dynamic that affected the participants’ performance and well-being. Whether nurses adapt or the environment adapts will be crucial in determining whether these nurses experience burnout or even leave the profession. Several recommendations stemming from this study are proposed to healthcare organisations, including policymakers, hospital leaders and nurse managers to improve work conditions in intensive care settings, which could potentially increase the adaptation to the work environment and, therefore, reduce burnout levels among nurses. In addition, it is crucial that stakeholders and hospital management understand the challenges that intensive care nurses encounter every day which impact their well-being as well as the quality of care. Policies and systems in hospitals, therefore, should be changed to help improve work conditions, which could potentially increase nurse retention and improve the quality of patient care.8 0Item Restricted Mapping the Fashion Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Impacts on Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.(RMIT University, 2025-03) Alharbi, Marwah; Tan, Caroline; Quintero Rodriguez, CarolinaThis thesis investigates the influence of the Fashion Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (FEE) on Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) and Business Performance (BP) within fashion Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Saudi Arabia. The study adopts a mixed-methods explanatory design, integrating a quantitative survey with 223 fashion MSMEs and qualitative interviews with 15 ecosystem stakeholders. Drawing on the Resource-Based View (RBV), EO defined through innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking, is conceptualised as a core intangible resource that mediates the relationship between external ecosystem elements and firm success. The quantitative phase employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the direct and mediating effects of FEE on EO and BP. The results revealed that FEE has a significant positive impact on both EO and BP. EO also showed a strong direct effect on BP and partially mediated the relationship between FEE and BP. These findings underscore the strategic importance of EO in enhancing business outcomes and demonstrate the role of the ecosystem in shaping entrepreneurial capacities. The qualitative phase utilised thematic analysis to explore how fashion entrepreneurs and ecosystem actors experience and interpret the FEE. Key challenges identified include limited access to finance, insufficient entrepreneurial education, misaligned support structures, and persistent cultural stigma associated with fashion entrepreneurship. The study also highlights the mismatch between existing support services often designed for technology sectors and the specific needs of fashion startups. Additional barriers were found in rural accessibility, institutional support, and gendered constraints. Overall, the findings offer a context-specific understanding of the Saudi FEE and its role in shaping EO and BP. The research contributes theoretical insights into the RBV and EO literature and provides practical recommendations aligned with Vision 2030 to strengthen policy, education, and support mechanisms in Saudi Arabia’s creative economy.3 0Item Embargo The Effectiveness of Communication Formats within Nation Branding: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia as a Global Tourism Destination(Loughborough University, 2025-06-16) Ghulman, Salma; Torrens, George; Downs, SimonPurpose: This thesis examines the role of communication formats in shaping Saudi Arabia’s nation brand under Vision 2030, by focusing on Generation Z’s perceptions and engagement with professionally generated content (PGC) and user-generated content (UGC). It also evaluates the effectiveness of biometric tools (eye tracking, EEG, and facial expression analysis) in assessing emotional and cognitive responses to nation branding strategies. Methodology: A multiphase mixed-method approach was employed, it integrates quantitative, qualitative, and biometric data. Study One used an online questionnaire to establish baseline perceptions of Saudi Arabia’s nation brand. Study Two conducted semi-structured interviews with policymakers to assess strategic implementation challenges. Study Three explored tourism service providers’ perspectives through an online survey. Study Four implemented a multimodal experiment using biometric measures to examine Generation Z’s engagement with different communication formats. Findings: The research identified key challenges in Saudi Arabia’s nation branding efforts, including fragmented messaging, the evolving role of digital platforms, and the impact of stereotypes. The findings revealed that Generation Z engages more with PGC than UGC, they established higher emotional arousal and cognitive engagement, as captured through biometric measures. Policymakers and service providers acknowledged the need for a cohesive, data-driven approach to branding, and leveraging modern communication tools. The integration of biometric tools provided novel insights into audience responses, and emphasises the role of emotionally driven content in nation branding. Contribution: This research bridges critical research gaps by comparing PGC and UGC effectiveness, introducing biometric methodologies in nation branding research, and providing empirical insights into the communication strategies shaping Saudi Arabia’s global image. The findings offer strategic recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders, it reinforces Vision 2030’s objectives of positioning Saudi Arabia as a competitive tourism destination. Keywords: Nation branding, Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030, Communication Strategies, Professionally Generated Content, User-Generated Content, Biometric Measures, Schema Theory, Generation Z.8 0Item Restricted Investigation into the Environmental Improvement of Passive Solar Design for Cooling (Comfort) in Residential Buildings in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-01) Albalawi, Abeer; Grant, JohnThis dissertation investigates the environmental improvement of passive solar design for cooling residential buildings within Saudi Arabia’s unique climatic and cultural context. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, incorporating case studies and surveys, to evaluate the integration of passive solar techniques and renewable energy technologies, such as photovoltaic systems and heat pumps. Key findings reveal that hybrid systems combining passive solar design with photovoltaics can reduce energy consumption by up to 70.7%, while ground-source heat pumps achieve a 34% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to air-source systems. The study also highlights the feasibility and cultural compatibility of integrating traditional architectural elements, like Mashrabiya, with modern sustainable solutions. These results underscore the potential of passive solar design and hybrid systems to align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sustainability goals. However, challenges such as high initial costs, limited public awareness, and expertise gaps necessitate targeted policy interventions, capacity building, and public education initiatives. This research provides valuable insights into sustainable housing practices, offering actionable recommendations for enhancing energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and advancing environmentally responsible construction in extreme climates.7 0Item Restricted NURSING INFORMATICS COMPETENCY AND EFFECTIVE CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING AMONG NURSES IN SAUDI ARABIA(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ALRUWAILI, SABIRIN; Al Osta, MohammadABSTRACT Introduction: Clinical Decision-Making (CDM) is among the essential skills in the nursing profession that affect the outcomes of provided care. Nurses utilize various resources to achieve optimal care outcomes, including nursing informatics tools and skills, where nurses’ competencies play a vital role. Aim: To examine the relationship between nursing informatics competency and the levels of clinical decision-making skills among nurses in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive correlational design with convenience sampling methods was used to conduct the current study. A self-report questionnaire that consists of questions about demographic characteristics, the Nursing Informatics Competency Assessment Tool (NICAT), and the Clinical Decision-Making in Nursing Scale (CDMNS). Data were collected between May and July 2024 using online Google Forms from registered nurses at three governmental hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Results: 160 registered nurses participated in the study. The results show that nurses in Saudi Arabia were “proficient” in their nursing informatics competencies with total scale average (M=110.5, SD ±24.3), and have a perceived “medium” level in their effective clinical decision-making with total average score (148.6, SD ±32.0). Moreover, there was a statistically significant strong linear relationship between nursing informatics competency and perceived levels of clinical decision-making (r=.734, p<.001). However, nursing informatics competency was the sole statistically significant predictor (β=0.7, p<.001) of their perceived level of clinical decision-making. Conclusion and Implications: The study presented the critical role of nursing informatics competency in clinical decision-making among nurses. The results highlight to the healthcare stakeholders and nursing management the importance of investing in targeted informatics training and the integration of nursing informatics clinical decision support tools into the clinical nursing practice. Moreover, the findings encourage researchers to explore additional factors influencing clinical decision-making through longitudinal and qualitative research methods to gain a deeper understanding of this complex process.14 0Item Restricted Prevalence of Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Among Undiagnosed Schoolteachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Aldekhayel, Ghassan; Farragher, Tracey; Verma, Arpana; Greenhalgh, Christine; Azmi, ShazliBackground: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is an important public health issue in the Middle East region because of its high prevalence. In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of type 2 DM among adults is 23.1%, and is one of the top ten causes of mortality. Patients with type 2 DM may remain undiagnosed for many years, due to its asymptomatic nature especially in the early stages. It is estimated that nearly half of adults with type 2 DM in Saudi Arabia are undiagnosed, which indicates the importance of early detection to understand the true burden of the disease. In addition, early detection and management of type 2 DM prevents complications related to diabetes. Also, identifying prediabetes cases helps prevent or delay the onset of type 2 DM. Methods: This study included both observational cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs. Schoolteachers in Riyadh were randomly selected from the Ministry of Education database and invited to complete the Saudi diabetes risk score questionnaire. Those identified as high risk underwent diabetes diagnostic tests, such as fasting plasma glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), at collaborating primary healthcare centres. Participants diagnosed with type 2 DM or prediabetes were followed up after 3 months to assess risk factors associated with changes in HbA1c. Additionally, participants completed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaires at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, to assess the quality of life of participants over time and compare HRQoL outcomes between low and high risk participants. Results: Among 945 recruited participants, 387 (41%) were female, the mean age was 42.5 years (SD ± 7.1), and 372 (39.4%) were classified as high risk. Out of 109 high risk participants who attended diabetes diagnostic testing, 7 (6.4%) were diagnosed with type 2 DM, and 19 (17.4%) were diagnosed with prediabetes. Population weighted estimates indicated that 1.8% of teachers in Riyadh had undiagnosed type 2 DM or prediabetes (95% CI: 0%, 6.91%). Among participants diagnosed with type 2 DM or prediabetes greater reductions in HbA1c levels at the 3-month follow-up was associated with higher baseline HbA1c levels (Coefficient: -0.63, 95% CI: [-0.79, -0.47]). Additionally, high risk participants reported lower HRQoL scores across physical, psychological, social relationships, and environment domains compared to low risk participants, with statistically significant differences observed in the physical (Coefficient: -5.57, 95% CI: [-8.65, -2.48]) and psychological (Coefficient: -4.40, 95% CI: [-7.47, -1.33]) domains. Conclusion: The study found a high prevalence of teachers at high risk of type 2 DM in Saudi Arabia. Early identification and intervention for participants with higher baseline HbA1c levels were associated with greater HbA1c reductions after 3 months, which may lead to better health outcomes and reduce the burden of diabetes-related complications. These findings highlight the feasibility and potential benefits of systematic prediabetes and type 2 DM case finding programmes in Saudi Arabia.10 0Item Restricted Factors influencing healthcare workers’ adherence to infection prevention and control in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-07-09) Awal, Zainab Abdullah A; Mcfeely, Clare; Kidd, LisaBackground: Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices are crucial in reducing healthcare-associated infections. Despite their importance, adherence among healthcare workers (HCWs) remains suboptimal. In Saudi Arabia, IPC research has increased especially post-COVID-19. However, research on understanding factors influencing adherence, particularly in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and medical wards, is limited. Objective: This study aimed to explore factors affecting adherence to IPC practices among HCWs in ICUs and medical wards in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A multi-method qualitative approach was employed across three phases in two Saudi hospitals: • Phase 1: Conducted a qualitative systematic review to identify factors influencing IPC adherence among HCWs in Middle Eastern countries. • Phase 2: Held focus groups with infection control team members (n=8) to gather insights on IPC practices and adherence challenges. • Phase 3: Performed semi-structured interviews with HCWs (n=20) from ICUs and medical wards to explore barriers and facilitators of IPC adherence. Findings: The study identified both individual and organizational factors impacting IPC adherence: • Individual Factors: Moral principles, ethical beliefs, cultural habits, knowledge, and awareness of HCWs influenced IPC adherence. • Organisational Factors: Challenges included leadership deficits, training gaps, environmental constraints, organisational culture, and department-specific issues related to patient acuity. Conclusion: Enhancing IPC adherence requires organisational support, effective monitoring strategies, and culturally sensitive IPC policies. Engaging families in IPC practices, fostering a supportive work environment, and addressing staffing and environmental issues are important. Future research should focus on culturally tailored IPC interventions, family involvement in IPC education, and comparative studies across various healthcare settings and disciplines to improve overall IPC adherence.5 0