Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item 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.27 0Item Restricted DENTAL PRACTITIONERS' KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE (KAP) IN CAIRO AND RIYADH REGARDING CARIES RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT (A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY)(Cairo University, 2024) Almuatiri, Waleed Saqer; Abuelniel, Gihan MohammedObjective: The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of dental practitioners regarding caries risk assessment (CRA) and management, focusing on the influence of demographic factors such as gender, nationality, years of experience, and practice sector. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 174 dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The survey included questions to evaluate participants' knowledge of caries risk factors, attitudes towards CRA, and their practices in caries management. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20®, Graph Pad Prism®, and Microsoft Excel 2016 to explore associations between KAP and demographic factors. Chi-square tests were used to determine the significance of these associations. Results: The study revealed that while the overall knowledge of dental practitioners regarding caries prevention is high, significant gaps exist in understanding the impact of socioeconomic factors and the effectiveness of preventive measures like xylitol. Attitudes towards CRA were generally positive, with most practitioners recognizing its importance in clinical practice. However, time constraints were identified as a major barrier to the consistent application of CRA. The study also found significant variability in caries management practices, with government sector practitioners more consistently using preventive measures compared to those in private practice. Gender, nationality, and practice sector were significant predictors of differences in knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Conclusion: The study concludes that while dental practitioners have a strong foundation in caries prevention, addressing the identified knowledge gaps and practice variability is crucial. Continuing education programs focusing on the socioeconomic determinants of caries and the benefits of preventive measures like xylitol are recommended. Streamlined CRA processes are needed to overcome practical barriers and improve the consistency of caries management across different practice settings.4 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.26 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 ˂0.05.61 0Item Restricted Knowledge, Use, and Confidence in Artificial Intelligence Applications Among Orthodontists in the UK and Ireland(The University of Edinburgh, 2024) Sabbagh, Abdulrahman; McGuinness, NiallBackground: Artificial intelligence (AI) has been applied in orthodontics using different applications, including cephalometric tracing, remote and initial assessment, remote monitoring of treatment progress, and extraction decision-making. This study aims to assess knowledge, usage, confidence, and future interest in AI applications amongst orthodontists in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst orthodontists in the United Kingdom and Ireland. A self-reported questionnaire was used. Data was collected on participant demographics, as well as knowledge, usage, confidence, and future use of different AI applications. Pearson chi-square tests were used to assess if demographics, region of work, sector of work, and years of experience influenced responses. Results: A total of 331 responses were received. There was a general awareness that AI can be used in orthodontics in 80.4% of respondents. In addition, the overall mean knowledge, usage, and confidence levels of the examined AI applications were 51.3%, 16.6% and 18.7% respectively. Knowledge, usage, and confidence levels for specific AI applications differed, with the greatest familiarity, usage, and confidence observed in AI applications for cephalometric tracing and remote monitoring. Alternatively, the lowest awareness, usage, and confidence were attributed to AI applications that assisted in identifying the need for extractions. Additionally, most orthodontists (81%) consider AI to be beneficial for future use and the majority (96.7%) were open to learning about it. Statistically Significant associations (P >0.05) were discovered between knowledge, usage, and confidence in various AI applications and between multiple factors including healthcare sectors, practice regions, and gender. Conclusion: This study revealed differing levels of knowledge, usage, and confidence in various AI applications among practitioners in the UK and Ireland. The findings suggest a knowledge-implementation gap that might be beneficial to be targeted by educational means to increase the adoption of AI technology in the orthodontic practice.78 0Item Restricted Assess Perspective and Knowledge of Healthcare Providers Towards Telehealth in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-11-28) Mulayhi, Badriah Mousa; George, JominBackground and Objective: Telehealth has become a well-known tool for the delivery of health care in Saudi Arabia, and the perspective and knowledge of healthcare providers are influential in the implementation, adoption and advancement of the method. This systematic review was conducted to examine the current literature base regarding telehealth and the related healthcare professional perspective and knowledge in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This systematic review was conducted by searching seven databases, including MEDLINE, CINHAL, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO and ProQuest Central. Inclusion criteria designated studies that were published in the English language from 2000 to 2023 in Saudi Arabia, full-text available and assessed the perspective or knowledge of healthcare providers towards telehealth. This systematic review was guided by Boland's guidance. All related studies were individually assessed by the researcher using the AXIS tool, which assesses the quality of cross-sectional studies in a systematic review. Data were extracted into a table, and a narrative synthesis was carried out to summarise and report the findings. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria out of the 1840 search results. Positive perspective and low levels of knowledge among providers were observed across the studies. Frequent reasons for a positive attitude toward telehealth among healthcare providers were improving healthcare quality, access and delivery, saving time and money and its effective use. In addition, age, gender, profession and work experience were identified as factors associated with health professionals' knowledge level. The major challenges facing healthcare providers in practicing telehealth in Saudi Arabia are insufficient expert support, patient privacy, internet connection issues, lack of training courses, lack of knowledge of telehealth usage and high cost. Conclusions: This systematic review highlighted the existing perception and knowledge of health care providers towards telehealth. As a compilation of the varied personal attitude and knowledge of concerned professionals, it will assist in the better implementation of telehealth in Saudi Arabia, improve its advancement as a health care delivery option and reduced common challenges to its use.20 0Item Restricted Deprecated Environments: Exploring Knowledge Cultivation in Some of Saudi Arabia’s Habitat Restoration and Climate Mitigation Projects(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-11-03) Albawardi, Amani; Swanton, DanThis dissertation challenges misconceptions surrounding arid environments, spotlighting their biodiversity and adaptive communities. While global environmental pressures threaten these ecosystems, local wisdom remains underutilised due to imported, globalised narratives of development. Focusing on Saudi Arabia, the study critiques the favouring of Western-driven restoration approaches and advocates for regionally and culturally attuned strategies. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines literature contextualisation and interviews with active local actors to provide an in-depth perspective of the local Saudi experience– which I argue is underrepresented in English literature and could provide great value if it was better situated within global research–to mend this gap in the current bodies of knowledge. Chapters 1 through 4 navigate through complex themes and narrative shifts, interrelated challenges, and assess regional restoration efforts. Chapter 5 introduces novel insights from mangrove forest restoration projects and unveils unexplored dimensions of locality, decision-making, and inclusion. By celebrating local insights and advocating for context/regional-specific methodologies, this dissertation advocates for holistic ecological restoration and climate resilience paradigms while suggesting new areas for explorations in the kingdom.50 0Item Restricted A Systematic Literature Review on The Critical Determinants of Green Innovation Adoption in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Evidence-Based Recommendations for Promoting Green Entrepreneurship in Emerging and Developed Economies(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-11-06) Alshudaied, Turki; Das, RanjitEco-innovation (EI), green innovation (GI), and sustainable innovation (SI) are key drivers of sustainable development and competitive advantage for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging and developed economies. In this study, we aim to show how SMEs can pursue eco-friendly innovation in a constantly changing business landscape and develop the methodological skills and research expertise necessary for future doctoral studies. This study was conducted in Scotland, and the specific objectives were to: (1) identify the determinants driving GI adoption; (2) compare GI adoption patterns in emerging and developed economies; (3) examine the interactions and relationships among the identified determinants in SMEs; (4) assess the effectiveness of strategies deployed; and (5) provide practical recommendations for promoting GI adoption. Using the PRISMA framework, we conducted a comprehensive thematic analysis of 47 peer-reviewed articles, and NVivo software was used to analyse the data qualitatively through an interpretive lens. We used four theoretical perspectives to guide our analysis and foster a deeper understanding of how business strategies interact: Resource-Based View (RBV), which focuses on how firms leverage their internal resources and capabilities to gain competitive advantage; stakeholder theory, which emphasises how firms balance the interests and expectations of various stakeholders; resource dependency theory (RDT), which examines how firms manage their dependencies on external resources and actors; and institutional theory (INT), which explores how firms conform to or resist the institutional pressures and norms in their environment. Our findings reveal that SMEs should establish sustainable relationships with various organisations to overcome resource constraints and environmental uncertainties related to GI adoption. In addition, this study proposes a comprehensive strategy for SMEs on how to adopt GI practises based on the integration of the four theoretical perspectives. Our study contributes to the literature on GI adoption in SMEs by providing a systematic review of the existing evidence and offering practical recommendations for SMEs, policymakers, and researchers.32 0Item Restricted Determining the Level of Knowledge and Perception of Women in Saudi Arabia towards Preventive Measures of Communicable Diseases(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-09-22) Albeladi, Eidah Talaq; Smith, PatriciaThis study focuses on Saudi women's knowledge and perception of the context of preventing communicable diseases. Preventive measures are essential to minimising the global challenges posed by communicable diseases. Women's role as primary carers further emphasises the need to enhance their awareness for more effective disease control and improved health outcomes. The research objective is to determine women's knowledge and perceptions of preventive measures relating to communicable diseases. The limitations of qualitative studies in the existing literature highlight the significance of this research. The research methodology involves a secondary qualitative narrative review. It involves an examination of existing studies and the utilisation of the Health Belief Model (HBM) framework. Using a narrative synthesis method, six selected qualitative studies were combined. The results of this review using thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes. First, concerning women's knowledge, there is considerable variability in their understanding, making it challenging to generalise due to the limited availability of existing studies. Second, women's perceptions and beliefs are influenced by factors that impact their behaviour as regards preventive measures and are often shaped by cultural, religious, and societal pressures. Third, various factors, including cultural and religious norms, stigma, and healthcare access, shape women's knowledge and subsequently affect their behavior. Notably, women exhibit heightened awareness when exposed to accessible resources, informative campaigns, and supportive familial and social networks. Combining these themes sheds light on understanding women's knowledge and perceptions and their readiness to embrace preventive measures. The findings can assist with targeted interventions and public health policies to empower women, leading to healthier populations, a reduction in disease burden, and the preparation of women for any future pandemic. In conclusion, this secondary qualitative narrative review underscores the importance of determining women's knowledge and perceptions of communicable disease prevention. The insight gained from this research adds to the existing knowledge in this field. It helps the development of effective strategies that can positively impact women's wellbeing, aligning with the vision of a healthier society outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.62 0