Digital Health Platforms in Saudi Arabia: Determinants from the COVID-19 Pandemic Experience.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Alghamdi SM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8618772 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BACKGROUND:The first case of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia was confirmed on March 3, 2020. Saudi Arabia, like many other countries worldwide, implemented lockdown of most public and private services in response to the pandemic and established population movement restrictions nationwide. With the implementation of these strict mitigation regulations, technology and digital solutions have enabled the provision of essential services. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this paper is to highlight how Saudi Arabia has used digital technology during the COVID-19 pandemic in the domains of public health, health care services, education, telecommunication, commerce, and risk communication. METHODS:We documented the use of digital technology in Saudi Arabia during the pandemic using publicly available official announcements, press briefings and releases, news clips, published data, peer-reviewed literature, and professional discussions. RESULTS:Saudi Arabia's government and private sectors combined developed and launched approximately 19 apps and platforms that serve public health functions and provide health care services. A detailed account of each is provided. Education processes continued using an established electronic learning infrastructure with a promising direction toward wider adoption in the future. Telecommunication companies exhibited smooth collaboration as well as innovative initiatives to support ongoing efforts. Risk communication activities using social media, websites, and SMS text messaging followed best practice guides. CONCLUSIONS:The Saudi Vision 2030 framework, released in 2017, has paved the path for digital transformation. COVID-19 enabled the promotion and testing of this transition. In Saudi Arabia, the use of artificial intelligence in integrating different data sources during future outbreaks could be further explored. Also, decreasing the number of mobile apps and merging their functions could increase and facilitate their use.
| S-EPMC7473704 | biostudies-literature
Project description:A comprehensive literature review of Research engines was conducted up to March 2022 to retrieve the articles. We considered all published data, press briefings, and announcements by the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia (MOH). The search included both sources in English and Arabic. Thus, this paper aims to give a comprehensive overview of the evolution and role of telemedicine and E-health represented in multiple informatics mobile applications during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. As a component of its subjective drives, the MOH has launched and developed a total of 12 mobile applications from 2012 to 2019, three apps of which were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. My health "Sehhaty" was the cornerstone of telemedicine services provided by the MOH in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtually booked physician appointments exceeded 3.8 million. Appointment "Mawid" app number of users sprinted from 4 million to 25 million users and the number of appointments booked in the same app went from 8 million to 100 million appointments in pre-COVID-19 compared to the post-COVID-19 period. Furthermore, the Health 937 hotline numbers grew to 24.6 million calls. The Health "Seha" app provided 2 million remote medical consultations with an almost 8-fold increase compared to pre-COVID-19 times.
| S-EPMC9509531 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundBetween March and June 2020, closing dental clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic except for emergency dental care was recommended. It is documented that health-seeking behaviors change during pandemics. The objective of this study was to examine social determinants associated with decisions to seek dental care in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA total of 4372 participants were invited to this cross-sectional web-based survey distributed from April 21 to June 20, 2020. The survey included a list of emergency, urgent, and routine dental procedures. Participants were asked if they would seek dental care for these conditions during the pandemic, and what pain severity would make them seek dental treatment. Logistic regression models were performed for predicting variables that explain the decision to go or not to go to the dental clinic during the pandemic for each dental condition.ResultsA total of 3443 responded to this survey. The emergency dental situation participants were most willing to go to the dental clinic for was trauma involving facial bones compromising the airway (94.5%). Only 65.8% were willing to seek care for facial cellulitis compromising the airway. On average 35.2% reported seeking teleconsultation as the first step. Eighteen percent of participants were still willing to go to the dental clinic during the pandemic for routine dental procedures. Multiple logistic regression showed that females (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.6, OR 95% CI 1.3, 1.9), people who had never visited a dentist (OR: 1.8, OR 95% CI 1.3, 2.5), and people living in metropolitan regions (OR: 1.8, OR 95%: 1.4, 2.3) had higher odds for not seeking emergency dental care during this pandemic. The pain threshold for seeking dental care during the pandemic was 7 out of 10. Female, those who never visited a dentist, and those from urban regions reported higher pain threshold before seeking dental care (P value < 0.001).ConclusionSocial disparities were found in emergency dental care seeking decision-making in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was alarming that some people were afraid to seek dental care for life-threatening dental emergencies as cellulitis during this pandemic. This reflects the importance of increasing public health awareness and governmental regulations.
| S-EPMC8074701 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Saudi Arabia plays an important strategic role within the Middle East and afar because of its geographical location, and being the host of one of the largest annual religious mass gatherings in the world "The Hajj". During the recent coronavirus pandemic, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) developed a multisectoral plan that adopted multiple measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 transmission both domestically and internationally. In this article, we review all public health related policy decisions from the Saudi Ministry of Health, other government departments, and the private sector that contributed to limiting the severe consequences from Covid-19. Ten effective strategies are outlined and the challenges related to their implementation are explored. The strategies include: 1. Quarantine and travel restriction, 2. Expansion of serological screening, 3. Mask wearing (covering the face and nose) and social distancing, 4. Preparation of hospitals to deal with the influx of coronavirus cases, 5. Use of artificial intelligence, 6.Public assurance, 7.Removal of slum areas and re housing of its inhabitants, 8. Cancellation of the Hajj season, 9. Economic stimulus packages to safeguard the economy, and 10. fair and priority driven vaccine distribution. Conclusion: The government of Saudi Arabia demonstrated responsibility at the highest level to prioritize the safety and well-being of its citizens and residents. Rapid early response to the pandemic warnings, extensive experience in previous epidemics and in mass gathering medicine, wise management of healthcare resources, and unprecedented harmonization of governmental and private sectors were significant factors for this success.
| S-EPMC8447545 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic damaged crude oil markets and amplified the consequences of uncertainty stemming from the Russia-Saudi Arabia oil price war in March-April of 2020. We investigate the impacts of the oil price war on global crude oil markets. By doing so, we use the daily futures and spot prices in three major crude oil markets - West Texas Intermediate, European Brent, and Oman - to perform a systematic analysis of the impacts of the oil price war on them. The event study method, a well-established analytical tool to measure the impacts of a given event on markets, is used in this study. The results indicate that information leakage plays an important role in the impacts of the price war. The outbreak of and truce following the price war have asymmetrical impacts on the markets; negative impacts generated by information leakage during the outbreak are generally more durable than the positive ones it generated during the truce. Furthermore, the magnitude of the impacts on futures markets is negatively correlated with the time-to-maturity of futures. Finally, negative crude oil prices affect West Texas Intermediate crude oil markets the most. Our findings generally show that market participants could perceive and assimilate market changes and adjust their expectations, which restrained the impacts that should have occurred within the oil price war.
| S-EPMC8652835 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The aim of this study was to measure anxiety levels and many co-factors that might influence the levels of anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak in southern Saudi Arabia (KSA). A cross-sectional self-reporting survey was conducted to determine the level of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms related to COVID-19 and quarantining. We selected a convenience sample of eligible participants who had been invited online through social media apps. The survey instrument was distributed, and 981 participants responded. Of the total sample, almost 90% were under the age of 40, 75% were women, and 77% had an educational level beyond high school. Just over half were single, with nearly all participants Saudi nationals. The overall prevalence of anxiety related to COVID-19 was 27%. Factors most strongly related to reporting anxiety included having a diagnosis of COVID-19, spending 1- ≥ 3 h focused on COVID-19, having a previous mental illness history, being a current or former smoker, being female, having a previous diagnosis of chronic or respiratory illness, being below age 40, having a limited standard of living, and being a student. Our study reveals how critical it is to emphasize preventive mental health care during pandemics and what factors may make some individuals most vulnerable to anxiety. Further research is recommended to examine GAD levels pre, during and post pandemic. Additional research to explore the long-term impact of the pandemic on mental health is also needed. being a student, and a limited standard of living.
| S-EPMC9106396 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Nearly four months have passed since the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which caused the rapidly spreading Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To date, there have been more than 2.3 million confirmed cases and more than 160,000 deaths globally caused by COVID-19. Chinese health authorities, where the virus emerged, have taken prompt strict public health measures to control and prevent the spread of the outbreak. In Saudi Arabia, unprecedented precautionary strict measures were applied to prevent virus entry to the country or to mitigate its impact when it arrives. Here, we review the response of Saudi Arabia to COVID-19 pandemic and how did the experience learned from the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) epidemic since 2012 has helped the country to be better prepared for the current COVID-19 pandemic. We also discuss the country readiness, improvement in research and development, and the unprecedented rapid precautionary measures that have been taken by the Saudi government thus far.
| S-EPMC7211706 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundDental health care providers (DHCPs)are at high risk of cross-infection during clinical practice therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the DHCPs Covid-19 related concerns, its perceived impact, and their preparedness in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study on DHCPs was carried out at five dental teaching hospitals/colleges in four provinces of Saudi Arabia from October to December 2020. A 35-item valid and reliable questionnaire was used to assess the concerns, perceived impact, and preparedness of DHCPs in the COVID-19 pandemic. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to compare parameters between the clinical and non-clinical staff.ResultsA total of 320 DHCPs participated in this study with proportion of clinical staff (57.5%) surpassing the non-clinical staff (42.5%). The clinical DHCPs felt greater odds of falling ill with COVID-19 than non-clinical workers (OR, 2.61) and willing to look for another job (OR, 3.50). The higher proportion in both groups was worried that people close to them would be at higher exposure risk (96.3%) however, slightly more clinical DHCPs were concerned for their children than a non-clinical worker (OR, 3.57). The clinical DHCPs have greater odds of worrying that people would avoid them and their family members because of their job (OR, 2.75). A higher proportion in both groups (75.0%, 63.2%) felt that they would feel stress at work. More non-clinical DHCPs (94.1%) had received training for infection control than clinical (94.1% vs 63.0%: OR 0.10). Similarly, more DHCPs in the nonclinical group received adequate personal protective equipment training (88.2%; OR, 0.48). Most participants practiced self-preparation such as buying masks and disinfection (94.4%, 96.9%).ConclusionThe majority of DHCPs felt concerned about their risk of exposure and falling ill from infection and infecting friends/family. These concerns could potentially affect the working of DHCPs during this pandemic. Measures to improve protection for DHCPs, minimize psychological implications, and potential social stigmatization should be identified at the planning phase before any pandemic.
| S-EPMC8194414 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PurposeThe new Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant impact on the medical sector worldwide, including physical therapy (PT). The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the PT services, and the associated psychological distress endured by PT practitioners in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to survey on-duty PT practitioners using a web-based questionnaire. Licensed PT practitioners working in Saudi Arabia (n = 265) participated and completed all the survey questions. The questionnaire comprised 30 questions covering the sociodemographic data and the outcome measures, which included the impact of the pandemic on the PT practice, use of telerehabilitation, administrative response during the pandemic, and PT practitioners' anxiety measured by the General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale.ResultsDuring the lockdown, disruptive impact on the PT practice was reported by most of the participants (80%). The majority of PT clinics/departments were either partially (43.8%) or completely (31.3%) shutdown, and therapists treated patients less than usual. Around 30% of participants reported using a telerehabilitation approach during the pandemic to communicate with patients, and about 33% received online courses and webinars to adapt the PT practice in response to the pandemic. About 21% of participants endured moderate to severe levels of anxiety, which was more pronounced among females.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the PT services in Saudi Arabia. Consequently, the number of patients treated was reduced, and therapists suffered notable psychological stress. Furthermore, although implemented, adaptive administrative measures were inadequate. Physical therapy practitioners and administrative authorities are encouraged to prioritize training and implementation of telerehabilitation as a likely prospective approach of PT practice.
| S-EPMC9733862 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The last two years have been marked by the emergence of Coronavirus. The pandemic has spread in most countries, causing substantial changes all over the world. Many studies sought to analyze phenomena related to the pandemic from different perspectives. This study analyzes data from the governorates of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (the KSA), proposing a broad analysis that addresses three different research objectives. The first is to identify the main factors affecting the variations between KSA governorates in the cumulative number of COVID-19 infections. The study uses principal component regression. Results highlight the significant positive effects of the number of schools in each governorate, and classroom density within each school on the number of infections in the KSA. The second aim of this study is to use the number of COVID-19 infections, in addition to its significant predictors, to classify KSA governorates using the K-mean cluster method. Findings show that all KSA governorates can be grouped into two clusters. The first cluster includes 31 governorates that can be considered at greater risk of Covid infections as they have higher values in all the significant determinants of Covid infections. The last objective is to compare between traditional statistical methods and artificial intelligence techniques in predicting the future number of COVID-19 infections, with the aim of determining the method that provides the highest accuracy. Results also show that multilayer perceptron neural network outperforms others in forecasting the future number of COVID-19. Finally, the future number of infections for each cluster is predicted using multilayer perceptron neural network method.
| S-EPMC9540145 | biostudies-literature