Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF FACULTY MEMBERS AT TAIBAH UNIVERSITY TOWARD CHALLENGES FACING DEAF AND HARD-OF HEARING STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almutairi, Hammam A; John L, HospThis dissertation examines the knowledge and attitudes of faculty members at Taibah University toward the challenges faced by Deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) students in higher education. As Saudi Arabia moves toward greater inclusivity in its educational system, understanding how faculty perceive and support D/HH students is critical. Using mixed-methods, research design, the study collected both quantitative survey data and qualitative interview insights from faculty across the Humanities and Science colleges. The research aimed to assess the faculty's awareness of D/HH students' needs, their attitudes toward inclusivity, and the degree of training or experience they possessed in working with students with hearing impairments. The findings of the present study revealed that there was no significant influence of demographic characteristics and D/HH experience on the knowledge and attitude toward the challenges of teaching D/HH students. However, a significant inverse moderate correlation was found between knowledge and attitude (r = -0.647, p < 0.01). Importantly, this correlation demonstrated that higher levels of knowledge about D/HH students were associated with more positive attitudes toward teaching them. This indicates that as faculty members' knowledge about D/HH students increases, their attitudes become more positive, resulting in lower attitude scores on the scale used. While many faculty members expressed positive attitudes toward inclusion, significant knowledge gaps and inconsistent support strategies remain. Issues such as limited awareness of effective communication techniques, inadequate use of assistive technologies, and a lack of specialized training were identified as barriers to full participation for D/HH students. The study emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive faculty development programs focused on inclusive teaching practices, particularly in relation to D/HH students. It also highlights the necessity for institutional policies that mandate accessible classroom environments and ongoing professional training. Recommendations are provided for improving faculty readiness, enhancing assistive services, and fostering a university-wide culture of inclusion. By focusing on Taibah University as a case study, this research offers valuable insights for other higher education institutions in KSA and the broader Middle Eastern region. It contributes to the growing body of literature on disability inclusion in higher education and aims to inform future educational policy and practice improvements that promote equity, access, and success for D/HH students.27 0Item Restricted The Perception and Attitude of Dietitians Regarding the Nutritional Needs of Cystic Fibrosis Patients(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Bin Rabbaa, Razan; Battey-Muse, maxieBackground: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that presents complex nutritional needs due to pancreatic insufficiency, increased metabolic demands, and chronic inflammation, posing significant challenges to patients' overall health. Dietitians play a pivotal role in managing these intricate nutritional requirements, tailoring interventions to support optimal growth and well-being despite the disease's multifaceted impact. On top of these longstanding complexities, the recent introduction of CFTR modulators is transforming CF care, creating new considerations and necessitating adaptations in nutritional management. Despite the critical role of dietitians, there is a lack of research exploring their perceptions, attitudes, and lived experiences in addressing these challenges. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate these aspects, aiming to provide insights that enhance CF nutritional management on a broader scale. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of dietitians regarding the nutritional needs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The goal was to understand how dietitians approach CF nutritional management based on their lived experiences and to identify the perceived challenges, gaps, and professional insights that shape their practice. Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to gather in-depth insights from eight licensed dietitians, each with a minimum of one year of clinical experience, working in various healthcare settings in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited via email using purposive and convenience sampling. Interviews were conducted and recorded via WebEx. Data were analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach, with superordinate, sub-superordinate, and emergent codes used to identify patterns related to CF nutritional care. Results: Thematic analysis identified eight superordinate themes: Perceived Understanding of CF Nutrition, Perceived Nutritional Priorities, Dietitians' Confidence and Preparedness, Dietitians' Perceptions of Others in CF Care, Guidelines, Perceived Challenges, Awareness of Advances in CF Care, and Lived Experiences of Managing CF Nutrition. Findings revealed a strong consensus on increased energy requirements and the use of high-calorie, high-fat, and high-protein diets, aligning with established literature. However, perceived gaps in awareness of CFTR modulators and evolving nutritional trends, along with variable confidence levels linked to limited clinical exposure, revealed the need for enhanced training. Common challenges included poor patient adherence and difficulty meeting nutritional targets, often addressed through supplements and practical education. The study underscores the importance of culturally relevant guidelines, interdisciplinary collaboration, and family involvement, offering implications for practice, education, and future research to improve CF nutritional care. Conclusion: This study highlights the critical role of dietitians in navigating the complex and evolving landscape of cystic fibrosis nutritional care. The findings emphasize the need for improved education, clinical training, and access to updated guidelines to address current perceived gaps in knowledge and practice. By shedding light on dietitians’ experiences and challenges, this research contributes valuable insights that can inform curriculum development, continuing education, and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening CF nutritional care and patient outcomes.16 0Item Restricted PARENTS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF ORAL HEALTH AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH THE ORAL HEALTH STATUS OF ARABIC PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN KLANG VALLEY, MALAYSIA(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-07-22) Mohammed, Alsharif; Mohd, Nazan Ahmad Iqmer; Suriani, IsmailOral health diseases among pre-school children such as tooth decay is a global public health problem and influence the overall health of children. Parental oral health knowledge, attitude and practice have a direct effect on pre-school children, since the pre-school children may not be able to fully express their emotions orally. This study aimed to determine the level of parents’ knowledge, attitude and practice of oral health and its association with the oral health status of pre-school children in Arabic pre-schools in Klang Valley, Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among pre-schoolers with proportional stratified sampling from selected five Arabic pre-schools. 400 self-administered questionnaires in Arabic language were distributed among the Arabic parents. The questionnaire included five sections on sociodemographic characteristics, socioeconomic characteristics, parental oral health knowledge, attitude and practice, eating and oral hygiene habits of children and accessibility of dental services. The questionnaire had acceptable internal consistency (α=0.82). In this study, the internal consistency value was (α=0.78) and the test-retest reliability correlation coefficient showed a good reliability level (84%). SPSS version 23 was used to conduct Chi-Square test, Fisher’s exact test and binary logistic regression analysis for data analysis. Completed questionnaires were returned with a response rate of 95%. Among a total of 363 children with a median age of 4 years, 54.8% were females. Overall, 42.4% of the children had dental caries, 9.6% of them had gingivitis and 19.6% reported to have halitosis. Marital status, monthly income, accessibility to dental services, the gender of children, name of schools, start to brush the teeth and the number of times of brushing every day, visit the dentist regularly were factors significantly associated with the oral health status of children (p<0.05). Besides, parental knowledge, attitude and practice of oral health were significantly associated with the parent-reported oral health status of children (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study established that more than 50 % of the children found to have poor oral health. In order to mitigate these problems, effective oral health programs designed to change dietary habits and dental screening of children in this age group are necessary.11 0Item Embargo Development and Evaluation of an Educational Resource to Promote Skin-to-Skin Contact between Mother and Neonate in Saudi Arabia(The University of Newcastle, 2024-12) Hawsawi, Abeer; Fernandez, Ritin; Mackay, Maria; Alananzeh, Ibrahim; Al Mutair, AbbasIntroduction Skin-to-skin contact is crucial for both the baby and the mother for a better health outcome but the low practice rate in Saudi Arabia is a national concern. Consequently, there was an urgent need to develop an educational intervention to improve the uptake of skin-to-skin contact. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of educational resources to promote skin-to-skin contact in Saudi Arabia. Methodology and methods A multi-method design, grounded in the Knowledge to Action framework, included a scoping review, surveys, and a clinical controlled trial followed by a mixed-methods approach incorporating semi-structured interviews and surveys. The educational resources, available in both English and Arabic, consisted of a pamphlet, a PowerPoint presentation, and a short video. These resources were developed through co-creation, involving healthcare providers, mothers, and university researchers. An online consensus development conference involving 14 participants ensured the cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the resources. A total of 383 participants were recruited from two Saudi hospitals (control, n=192 and intervention, n=191) using a convenience sampling method to test the effect of the educational resource. Data analysis Data were collected using online surveys before and after the educational intervention. Semi structured interviews with eight mothers in the intervention group further explored their experiences with the intervention. The data were analysed using SPSS version 29. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi-square and T-tests, were used to compare outcomes between the control and intervention groups. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Qualitative data from interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results The online consensus development conference effectively guided the development and implementation of the educational intervention. The rates of correct skin-to-skin practice and breastfeeding within an hour after birth were significantly higher in the intervention group. Mothers reported a highly positive experience with the educational intervention. Conclusion The online consensus development conference facilitated the design and implementation of an effective intervention, significantly improving adherence to optimal skin-to-skin and early breastfeeding practices, with high maternal satisfaction.30 0Item Restricted Knowledge and Acceptability of HPV Vaccination in Countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review(University College London, 2024) Aboalaz, Amirah; Sonnenberg, PamBackground: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a significant cause of cervical cancer and may cause other cancers, including anal and penile cancers. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, the level of knowledge and acceptability of HPV vaccination varies widely across different regions. This systematic review focuses on the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) to evaluate the current state of awareness and vaccine acceptability. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, with a comprehensive search across Embase, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science for studies published between January 1, 2008, and March 30, 2024. Inclusion criteria were cross-sectional studies conducted in the EMR that included questions on HPV awareness, vaccine awareness, the link between HPV and cervical cancer, and vaccine acceptability. Studies were assessed for quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist. Results: A total of 815 studies were identified and after screening and quality appraisal, a total of 36 studies from 14 countries in the EMR were included. The review revealed low levels of awareness about HPV and its vaccine, with median awareness levels at 35.05% for HPV infection and 31.8% for the HPV vaccine. The median acceptability level for the HPV vaccine was higher, at 54.05%. Knowledge about HPV was found to be correlated with higher vaccine acceptability. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions to improve HPV vaccination knowledge and acceptability in the EMR. Strategies may include robust educational campaigns, integration of HPV education into school curricula, community engagement, and training of healthcare providers. Policy interventions to make the vaccine more accessible and affordable are also crucial. Addressing these challenges through comprehensive and multi-faceted approaches can significantly enhance vaccine uptake and reduce the burden of HPV-related diseases in the region.23 0Item Restricted Knowledge, attitude and practice of health and safety guidelines among laboratory staff in Saudi Arabia(Newcastle University, 2024-11) Aldhamy, Haifa Omar; McCune, Victoria; Pearce, Mark S; Maniatopoulos, GregoryBackground Medical laboratories are required to follow health and safety regulations to minimise occupational risks to laboratory staff. Without knowledge of and adherence to appropriate controls and procedures, laboratory acquired infection (LAIs) can result in morbidity and mortality to staff. The prevention and reduction of LAIs is a key priority for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) healthcare system as part of its infection prevention and control (IPC)/biosafety programme. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore the implementation of the IPC/biosafety programme from the laboratory staff viewpoint and to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of recommended polices and procedures. Methods A mixed-methods study design, combining quantitative (survey) and qualitative (semistructured interviews) methods was employed. The study was conducted in three hospitals (two public, and one private in KSA. Participants included laboratory staff, allied health professionals and infection control specialists. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential analysis. Qualitative data were analysed using the Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) framework. Results King Abdulaziz Medical City participants had the highest mean knowledge scores (9.81). Hayat National Hospital participants had the highest median attitude scores (53.5). Participants who received training had the highest median practice scores (52.0). There was a positive correlation between the knowledge and practice scores (r= 0.32, p= 0.003). Several themes regarding the implementation of safety guidelines were identified using NPTs four constructs, such as; awareness and risk perception of LAIs; valuing the benefits of guidelines; compliance with implementing guidelines; assessment and monitoring of guidelines implementation and facilitators of guidelines implementation. Conclusion Although the majority of participants had high scores on knowledge, attitude and practice, there were some differences between hospitals, confirming the need for standardisation among hospitals and continuous education and training. Staff were also aware of the risk of LAIs, and value of implementing guidelines to minimise occupational risk. However, factors such as lack of organisational support and lack of resources affected the implementation process. The need for a comprehensive action plan from the Ministry of Health and the General Directorate for Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare Facilities to facilitate the implementation of the IPC program was regarded as critical to the uptake of safety guidelines.33 0Item Restricted ANTENATAL EXERCISE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG SAUDI PREGNANT WOMEN(George Mason University, 2024) Alhajiri, Donna Nassir; Oh, Kyeung MiBackground: Regular physical exercise during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of complications for both the mother and the fetus. Globally, women’s exercise during pregnancy is low and decreases as pregnancy progresses. In Saudi Arabia, women’s antenatal exercise practices are understudied. There is an increase in women’s obesity and pregnancy-related weight gain, a lack of health counseling, and a lack of antenatal exercise guidelines. There is a need to explore the level of antenatal exercise and its associated factors. The findings can be used to develop culturally appropriate antenatal exercise education and counseling programs for Saudi pregnant women. Purpose of the study: To assess antenatal exercise adherence to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) exercise during pregnancy guidelines and its associated factors among Saudi pregnant women. Method: This is an exploratory, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. Data was collected using a self-reported questionnaire. The target population of this study was Saudi pregnant women. A convenient sampling method was used to include women 18 to 45 years old, living in the eastern province with a single, alive fetus and a normal pregnancy, naturally conceived, and who can read and write in Arabic. Exclusion criteria were women with a high-risk pregnancy, a medical problem except for diabetes mellitus, a psychological condition, or a mental or physical disability. In an exploratory manner, facilitators, and barriers as independent variables on intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, organizational, and policy levels were included to assess their associations with antenatal exercise. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the study sample’s characteristics, women’s levels of knowledge, attitude, and adherence to the ACOG antenatal exercise guidelines, in addition to antenatal exercise facilitators, and barriers on intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, organizational, and policy levels. Bivariate relationships between antenatal exercise and its associated factors were assessed using the independent t-tests and Chi-square tests. Finally, the associations of demographic characteristics, women’s knowledge, attitude, antenatal exercise facilitators, and barriers on intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, organizational, and policy levels factors with antenatal exercise were assessed using logistic regression analyses after assessing the assumptions. Statistical significance was tested at p ˂0.05.65 0Item Restricted Examining Twitter as A Learning Tool on Saudi Female Undergraduate Student Achievement and Attitudes: A Mixed-Methods Study(Northern Illinois University, 2024-03-27) Bamalan, Hend; Xie, YingToday’s learners commonly belong to a generation that grew up surrounded by using technological devices in classrooms, such as smartphones, laptops, iPads, or other tools – making them digital natives. To meet the nature of digital natives’ learning needs, the focus of educational institutions has been on adapting their instructional practices to align with the new realities. In Saudi Arabia, higher education institutions were encouraged to include more instructional technology to align with the nature of digital natives and improve students’ academic performance and engagement. The use of Twitter as a learning tool in higher education is a new educational tool, grounded in the constructivist theory of learning, and serves as a promising opportunity to support the Vision 2030 initiative by improving Saudi female higher education students’ access to knowledge and participation in more expansive learning environments. It is a relatively new educational tool in Saudi higher education institutions, and empirical research that examines the effectiveness of using Twitter in the educational context is sparse. The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to explore the effect of using Twitter as a learning tool on undergraduate Saudi female students’ academic achievement and attitudes in a traditional academic face-to-face higher education course with a convenience sample (N=166) of two groups. One was a treatment group (n=83, Twitter as a learning tool was used), and the other was a control group (n=83, Twitter as a learning tool was not used). Quantitative data were collected using a quasi-experimental design. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews (n=8). The quantitative data were analyzed using the independent samples t-test, the paired-samples t-test, and mixed design (ANOVA) repeated measures with a between subject factors were employed to determine if there was a significant difference in academic achievement (dependent variable) between the treatment and control groups. The qualitative data explored Saudi female students’ attitudes toward using Twitter as a learning tool and were analyzed using NVivo software. The findings revealed that students who used Twitter as a learning tool had a higher academic achievement level than students who did not use Twitter as a learning tool. Moreover, students agreed that using Twitter as a learning tool provided them with opportunities to develop their interpersonal, academic, and self-confidence skills which resulted in their increased understanding and knowledge of the Digital Culture course. They also indicated that using Twitter as an educational tool allowed them to reinforce current knowledge, expand their views on the topic of discussion, encourage them to look for evidence to support their own views and respond to peers’ Tweets pertaining to their course content and field of study. In addition, students perceived that Twitter as a learning tool increased their participation and engagement in the Digital Culture course. However, most students also discussed the challenges they perceived when using Twitter for educational purposes.34 0Item Restricted Nurses’ perspectives on the barriers to and facilitators of effective paediatric pain assessment and management: A systematic review(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-11-21) Gadi, Amirah Dawood M; Wilson, IseultBackground: Children’s pain is a universal problem that has far-reaching negative consequences. Despite the recognition that effective pain management is a fundamental human right, some children are still suffering from unrelieved pain. Nurses have a pivotal role in paediatric pain management; however, they are confronted by many barriers. It is therefore of value to explore the barriers and facilitators that nurses experience when caring for children in pain. Aim: This study aims to explore nurses’ perspectives regarding the barriers and facilitators related to the effective assessment and management of pain in children, infants, and neonates. Methodology: A search strategy was formulated, and five databases were searched for relevant articles including ProQuest, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO and PubMed. Each paper identified by the search underwent a quality assessment using a predetermined tool. Relevant information to the research question was extracted, and the major themes were then identified by thematic analysis. Findings: Eighteen studies were included in this review. Recognised barriers and facilitators were categorised into three main themes related to: (i) healthcare professionals; (ii) the child and their parents; and (iii) the organisation. Prominent barriers included nurses' inadequate knowledge of the uses and side effects of medication, limited pain assessment experience, low prioritisation of pain, time constraints, communication and language difficulties with children, as well as uncooperative children, insufficient parental involvement, lack of guidelines and resources shortages, and nurses’ distrust in pain assessment tools. Key facilitators comprised robust knowledge, adequate experience, higher education, in-service training, parental involvement, effective communication with children and parents, clear guidelines, adequate resources, and nurses’ trust in and utilisation of pain assessment tools. Conclusions: This review provides valuable insights into the barriers and facilitators faced by nurses with respect to the assessment and management of pain in the paediatric population. There is a need for targeted educational interventions and policy changes to support nurses’ ability to deliver high-quality pain care. Further research is needed in order to investigate these factors and to examine any other potentially associated determinants amongst paediatric nurses.23 0Item Restricted MEASURING THE USE OF LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS) IN TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE AMONG TEACHERS IN SAUDI ARABIAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES(Saudi Digital Library, 2022-06-08) Alsaaid, Adeem; Abd Razak, Norizan; Wahi, WahizaNumerous studies have shown the necessity for learning management systems (LMS) for teachers in various locations around the world in recent times. Instructors dominate the learning process in the Saudi education system, and students look to them as their primary source of information. Thus, in order to have a profound understanding, this study used two approaches: the quantitative approach used the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), to examine the major factors (Performance Expectancy; Effort Expectancy; Social Influence; and Facilitating Condition) affecting the adoption of e-learning systems and the differences in gender roles among university instructors. Also, this study applied the qualitative approach in order to triangulate and verify the findings. In terms of the data collection, in the quantitative approach, a self-administered questionnaire was used, and data were obtained from 190 English instructors from 28 Saudi Arabian public colleges. For the qualitative section of the study, an interview based on semi structure was conducted. The interview was guided by interview protocol (interview guide), thus 14 informants were interviewed. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) (quantitative) and thematic analysis (qualitative) were used to evaluate the proposed research. So, the results of this study showed that performance expectancy and social influence are significant predictors in influencing instructors’ behavioural intention (BI) to use a blackboard system (BBS), whereas effort expectancy facilitating conditions showed insignificant results with behavioural intention (BI). Subsequently, behavioural intention (BI) was significantly related to actual user behaviour. This study also examined gender as a moderator in the relation of behavioural intention (BI) to use the blackboard system (BBS) and actual usage behaviour of (BBS). Therefore, the results revealed that the interaction effect of ‘Gender’ was significantly moderate to the relationship between (BI) to use (BBS) and actual usage behaviour of blackboard system (BBS), which was stronger for females compared to males. In addition, from the qualitative data, the study further concluded that the best practice of teaching foreign languages such as English in Saudi Arabia lies in the three modes of teaching. These modes of teaching include; the traditional method (face-to-face), the online method, and the group discussion. As shown in the qualitative analysis that for better teaching and learning for the student, teachers should adopt the online mode available to them. Concerning technology in teaching foreign languages, it is concluded that most teachers in Saudi prefer to use the old method than the new method (online). This is due to its technical problem, high cost, and lack of adaptation by the teachers. The study further concluded that only through the use of technology in education gender segregation can be minimised in a country such as Saudi. Therefore, technology can play a vital role in minimising gender segregation in education. Thus, the model of this study has provided theoretical contributions by filling in gaps and offering accurate information followed up by conclusive evidence. This technique can also be used by universities to boost job performance, maintain instructors with high potential and talent in Saudi Arabia, and strengthen instructors' perceptions of (LMS).32 0