Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/10
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Item Restricted Preventive Strategies and Health Promotion Initiatives for Osteoporosis in the United States(Saudi Digital Library, 2024) Aldekhayel, Marwan; Verma, ArpanaThis review critically examines the preventive strategies and health promotion initiatives implemented to mitigate osteoporosis in the United States (US). Osteoporosis, a progressive bone disease characterised by low bone mineral density, poses a significant public health challenge due to its association with an increased risk of fractures, particularly in the elderly and postmenopausal women. In a high-income country like the US, with population ageing becoming a major public health concern, the prevention and control of osteoporosis and its related health consequences have become paramount. This review highlights the rising prevalence of osteoporosis, leading to substantial healthcare costs in the US, where it impacts approximately 54 million adults over the age of 50, contributing to over two million fractures annually. It also details various initiatives and organisations working to address this problem. These include the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF), which focuses on public education and advocacy, and government-led programs such as Healthy People 2030 and initiatives by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). These efforts aim to enhance screening, promote bone health, and support osteoporosis prevention and treatment research. Despite such efforts for several decades, the burden of osteoporosis does not seem to have declined. Many initiatives operate independently, leading to overlapping activities, redundant research, and fragmented outreach efforts. By fostering stronger partnerships and creating a more unified national strategy, these organisations could pool resources, share data more effectively, and streamline their health promotion activities. The review's findings underscore the importance of continued investment in public health strategies to manage the growing burden of osteoporosis in the US population, with a particular focus on addressing the needs of the vulnerable and marginalised.9 0Item Restricted A Web Content Analysis of Saudi Arabia’s Health Education Websites, Promotion, and Physical Activity: A quantitative evaluation of the accuracy, transparency, readability, navigability of the internet-based information and materials about cardiovascular diseases websites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.(Saudi Digital Library, 2022-03-15) ALBEHIJI, AFNAN; DR JANICE LEWISBackground Inadequate information, education and awareness concerning CVD are the reasons for the limited availability of CVD screening and management resources (WHO, 2021). The ability to access reliable CVD information online can help inform patient decisions regarding treatment and improve early detection rates. It is important to ensure that websites contain valid and reliable information about CVD. Research on the quality of the information provided by CVD websites in Saudi Arabia is limited, which is the research gap this study addresses. Aim To evaluate the accuracy, transparency, readability, and navigability of English-language websites that provide CVD information to patients in Saudi Arabia through quantitative research. Method The research method adopted in this study is a quantitative evaluation of 40 websites obtained from the first three pages of Google, Yahoo, and Bing. This study employed a screening tool as a questionnaire to collect data that was later analysed and presented using tables, charts, and descriptive statistics. Findings The .com domain websites were the most frequent (n=12) (30%) closely followed by those with a. med domain (n=11) (27.5%). Analysis of Accuracy score revealed that (n=26) websites had a score of zero, while (n=9) websites scored 72.72%, (n=1) website scored 31.81%, (n=1) website scored 18.18% and (n=1) website scored 4.54%, (n=2) websites scored 36.36%. Overall, 70% (n=28) of sample websites indicated transparency greater than 70%. All 40 websites analysed were found to have good navigability in finding information related to CVD. The readability results highlight the average text level of the sampled websites is “easy”. Conclusion and Recommendation The study showed fluctuating levels of accuracy, transparency, readability, and navigability among the sample websites. Health professionals should have visibility into the latest websites with the highest standards to ensure patient decisions will be more informed and improved overall outcomes. This research also provided information that can be utilised to guide policymakers and stakeholders in Saudi Arabia in accordance with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategic development plan.15 0Item Restricted CULTIVATING QUALITY OF LIFE: ASSESSING DIET, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG ARAB-AMERICAN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS - UNCOVERING BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS FOR HOLISTIC WELL-BEING(Claremont Graduate University, 2025) Alhomaidhi, Nouf Ali; Clague DeHart, JessicaThis dissertation examines the quality of life among Arab-American breast cancer survivors, with a particular emphasis on dietary practices, physical activity, and mental health. Despite increasing survivorship rates in this population, there remains a significant gap in the literature addressing their unique post-treatment experiences and needs. Employing a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, this study integrates quantitative survey data and qualitative narrative interviews to assess adherence to health behavior guidelines and to identify culturally specific barriers and facilitators to well-being. Quantitative findings indicated suboptimal adherence to recommended dietary and physical activity guidelines and highlighted prevalent psychological distress among participants. Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed that enablers of healthy behaviors included fear of cancer recurrence, strong social support, and pre-existing cultural dietary patterns. Conversely, major barriers encompassed financial constraints, limited access to culturally appropriate resources, treatment-related physical limitations, and sociocultural stigma surrounding mental health. This research provides a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between cultural, structural, and individual factors influencing survivorship among Arab-American women. The findings underscore the urgent need for culturally tailored, community-engaged public health interventions to improve survivorship outcomes and promote holistic well-being in this underserved population.15 0Item Restricted Enhancing Colorectal Cancer Screening Participation via Text Message Interventions(King's College London, 2024-09) Almoallem, Ghader; Round, Thomas; Hamad, WasimBackground: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most frequently diagnosed cancer globally and is a significant contributor to cancer-related deaths. Early detection through regular screening is crucial, as it greatly improves treatment outcomes and survival rates. However, screening participation for CRC remains insufficient, especially among minority groups. Text message interventions have been proposed as a cost-efficient and scalable solution to increase screening adherence. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of text messaging interventions in enhancing CRC screening participation. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across four major databases Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane up to August 2024. The review included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, mixed-methods studies, and qualitative research that evaluated the impact of text message reminders on CRC screening rates. Data were extracted on study characteristics, intervention specifics, and screening outcomes. Meta-analyses were carried out to calculate pooled effect sizes of text message interventions compared to usual care. Results: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, consisting of 12 RCTs, two observational studies, two mixed-methods studies, and two qualitative studies. The meta-analysis indicated that text message interventions significantly improved CRC screening uptake compared to usual care (pooled relative risk: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.12–1.36, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses validated the robustness of these results across different study designs and populations. Text message interventions were especially effective in low-income and underserved groups, where traditional outreach methods tend to be less successful. Furthermore, cost analysis from the reviewed studies highlighted that text messaging is a highly cost-effective method for promoting CRC screening. Conclusion: Text message interventions offer a scalable and effective approach to increasing participation in CRC screening programs. Their affordability, wide reach, and simplicity make them an ideal tool for public health systems, particularly those operating in resource-constrained settings. Despite these encouraging results, further research is needed to refine the content, timing, and cultural relevance of messages to ensure maximum impact across diverse populations. Incorporating text messaging into broader public health strategies could be crucial in alleviating the global burden of colorectal cancer.48 0Item Restricted Health Promotion Projects at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-06) Alkhabaz, Zainab Ali; Magliano, Dianna; Middleton, SoniaThe thesis focuses on three health promotion projects established following the Baker Heart and Diabetes Action Plan 2022-2023, which aimed to improve overall health and well-being in Victoria by encouraging healthy behaviours and promoting healthy lifestyles. The projects discussed the implementation of the Healthy Choices framework in RSL contexts, the enhancement of food from home in a local community area, and the development of a health promotion campaign targeting patients with multiple lifestyle-related diseases.21 0