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Background: Promoting stem cell donation behaviors could be crucial in advancing stem cell-based treatment, research and improving public health in Saudi Arabia. Donation of stem cells can be considered an act of social welfare just like blood donation because stem-cell-based therapies are emerging as a hope for those suffering from chronic health conditions and/or terminal illnesses. Aim: This study aims at assessing levels of awareness about sources of stem-cells, donor organizations and predictors of stem cell donation behavior in target population. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional online survey method. The study sample comprises 1325 educated Saudi people living in Ha'il city. The survey questionnaire collected data about respondents' demographic background, awareness about various sources of stem cells and stem-cell donor registries, willingness to donate stem cells, registration status and obstacles in stem cell donation registration. Percentages, Chi-square analysis and Odd Ratios were computed to analyze the data. Results: In this sample, (n = 696; 52%) were males and (n = 629; 48%) were females. Although (n = 1308; 98%) percent of respondents reported willingness to donate stem cell, less than one percent (n = 6; 0.5) were registered with Saudi Stem Cell Registry. Over 50% of respondents hold inaccurate perceptions about sources of stem cell. Odd Ratio (OR) values from binary logistic regression model identified four factors as significant predictors of non-registration status. These included (i) unaware about donor agencies and procedures (OR = 10.07; p < 0.05), (ii) unaware about possibility to donate stem cells (OR = 8.08; p < 0.05) (iii) concerns about impact on health (OR = 10.01; p < 0.05) and (iv) have health issues that does not permit donation (OR = 10.50; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Stem cell registrations can be enhanced through appropriate health education programs that focus on increasing awareness about donation procedures, trustworthy donor organizations and reducing people apprehensions related to donation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explains the development and partial validation of a sector‐specific Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework to help resolve a policy/practice gap in Saudi Arabia. Designed using feedback from health‐care professionals, who represent the primary stakeholders of the sector, and a quantitative method called analytical hierarchy process, the framework is intended to help Saudi CSR practitioners shift from rhetoric and undifferentiated activity to a focus on prioritized needs. The utility of the framework is tested using a simplified rubric with four levels of performance measured across two formative criteria, relevance and credibility of information. The overall result is a composite index that provides a substantive basis to implement CSR in the private health sector. The framework is potentially also suitable for stakeholders in other emerging economies seeking to integrate CSR into corporate planning and to reporting performance for strategic and ethical reasons beyond compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Medication Reconciliation (MedRec) process aims to improve patient safety through safe prescription and medication administration. A validated survey was carried out to address aspects related to MedRec process, its obstacles, the role of information technology, and the required functionalities for optimizing the MedRec process. A total of 81% of the survey’s respondents acknowledged the roles of EHR (62% of respondents), PHR (41%), and electronic medication registration list (33%) as necessary technology tools for MedRec. Most respondents emphasized the need to compile multiple medications’ entries of information technology systems into one application (96.4%), allowing the entries from community pharmacies (90.6%). Further, incorporating information technology into the MedRec process presents a challenge in terms of legal responsibility (92 %) and the ability to integrate medications with other hospitals and community medications (78.6%). Findings affirm the need for a well-designed MedRec process aided with information technology solutions. The external data and user preferences should be considered when redesigning the MedRec process. The study also suggests initiating a policy that mandates sharing data necessary for creating a compiled medication list for each patient. MedRec is an indispensable tool for building a fruitful medication management system in a healthcare organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an anticipated population increase of 33% over the next three decades, the Saudi Arabian healthcare sector needs to cater to an every growing population and demand of healthcare services. The demand for healthcare is high as compared to the supply of healthcare services, a scenario recognized by the Saudi Arabian government, which has lately encouraged the private sector to match the shortfall and benefit from this potentially lucrative sector. This exploratory research thus assesses the development of healthcare services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the past nine decades and key elements impacting the Saudi Arabian healthcare sector and its future. The research indicates that automation would be a reality, training, and development of healthcare professional would gain a centre stage, and primary healthcare centres would be further developed. The research concludes that both public and private sector should address the issue of shortage of beds at the earliest, by utilizing the funding to develop new hospitals and also, by improving and growing the existing facilities. Furthermore, the government should restructure the funding of the healthcare sector so that it becomes self-reliant and less dependent on the government budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to investigate job satisfaction amongst nurses in Saudi Arabian hospitals. In recent years, there has been considerable growth in the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia, yet little attention has been paid to improving the performance of healthcare professionals, by improving job satisfaction and retention of nursing staff. This paper reviews the research conducted on job satisfaction, and retention of Saudi nursing staff. This is an integrative review of previous studies on job satisfaction and retention of Saudi nursing staff. The electronic databases Google Scholar, CINAHL, PubMed, and Global Health were used to identify peer-reviewed literature published between 2009 and 2018. The literature review showed that the majority of nurses were satisfied in their job. However, there was a shortage of research in retention of nurses. The evidence from this study suggests that the hospitals need to ensure high level of job satisfaction and decent wages of nurses for maximum retention of nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]