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Alfallaj HA, Afrashtehfar KI, Asiri AK, Almasoud FS, Alnaqa GH, Al-Angari NS. The Status of Digital Dental Technology Implementation in the Saudi Dental Schools' Curriculum: A National Cross-Sectional Survey for Healthcare Digitization. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:321. [PMID: 36612639 PMCID: PMC9819993 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Objective: The primary objective of this cross-sectional national study was to investigate the status of digital dental technology (DDT) adoption in Saudi Arabian undergraduate dental education. A secondary objective was to explore the impact of dental schools' funding sources to incorporate digital technologies. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the chairpersons of prosthetic sciences departments of the 27 dental schools in Saudi Arabia. If any department chairman failed to respond to the survey, a designated full-time faculty member was contacted to fill out the form. The participants were asked about the school's sector, DDT implementation in the curriculum, implemented level, their perceptions of the facilitators and challenges for incorporating DDT. Results: Of the 27 dental schools (18 public and 8 private), 26 responded to the questionnaire (response rate: 96.3%). The geographic distribution of the respondent schools was as follows: 12 schools in the central region, 6 in the western region, and 8 in other regions. Seventeen schools secure and preserve patients' records using electronic software, whereas nine schools use paper charts. Seventeen schools (64,4%) implemented DDT in their curricula. The schools that did not incorporate DDT into their undergraduate curricula were due to not being included in the curriculum (78%), lack of expertise (66%), untrained faculty and staff (44%), and cost (33%). Conclusions: This national study showed that digital components still need to be integrated into Saudi Arabian dental schools' curricula and patient care treatment. Additionally, there was no association between funding sources and the DDT implementation into the current curricula. Consequently, Saudi dental schools must emphasize the implementation and utilization of DDT to align with Saudi Vision 2030 for healthcare digitization and to graduate competent dentists in digital dental care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayam A. Alfallaj
- Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh P.O. Box 3660, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh P.O. Box 3660, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kelvin I. Afrashtehfar
- Evidence-Based Practice Unit, Clinical Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Reconstructive Dentistry and Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ali K. Asiri
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh P.O. Box 3660, Saudi Arabia
- Dental Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh P.O. Box 22490, Saudi Arabia
- College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh P.O. Box 3660, Saudi Arabia
| | - Farah S. Almasoud
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh P.O. Box 3660, Saudi Arabia
- Dental Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh P.O. Box 22490, Saudi Arabia
- College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh P.O. Box 3660, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghaida H. Alnaqa
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh P.O. Box 3660, Saudi Arabia
- Dental Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh P.O. Box 22490, Saudi Arabia
- College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh P.O. Box 3660, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nadia S. Al-Angari
- Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh P.O. Box 3660, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh P.O. Box 3660, Saudi Arabia
- Dental Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh P.O. Box 22490, Saudi Arabia
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Hossain MS, Syeed MMM, Fatema K, Uddin MF. The Perception of Health Professionals in Bangladesh toward the Digitalization of the Health Sector. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13695. [PMID: 36294274 PMCID: PMC9602521 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bangladesh is undertaking a major transformation towards digitalization in every sector, and healthcare is no exception. Digitalization of the health sector is expected to improve healthcare services while reducing human effort and ensuring the satisfaction of patients and health professionals. However, for practical and successful digitalization, it is necessary to understand the perceptions of health professionals. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in Bangladesh to investigate health professionals' perceptions in relation to various socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, location, profession and institution. We also evaluated their competencies, as digital health-related competencies are required for digitalization. Additionally, we identified major digitalization challenges. Quantitative survey data were analyzed with Python Pandas, and qualitative data were classified using Valence-Aware Dictionary and Sentiment Reasoner (VADER). This study found significant relationships between age χ2(12,N=701)=82.02,p<0.001; location χ2(4,N=701)=18.78,p<0.001; and profession χ2(16,N=701)=71.02,p<0.001; with technical competency. These variables also have similar influences on psychological competency. According to VADER, 88.1% (583/701) of respondents have a positive outlook toward digitalization. The internal consistency of the survey was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha score (0.746). This study assisted in developing a better understanding of how professionals perceive digitalization, categorizes professionals based on competency, and prioritizes the major digitalization challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Shakhawat Hossain
- Department of CS, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
- RIoT Research Center, Independent University, Bangladesh, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - M. M. Mahbubul Syeed
- RIoT Research Center, Independent University, Bangladesh, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
- Department of CSE, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Kaniz Fatema
- RIoT Research Center, Independent University, Bangladesh, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
- Department of CSE, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Faisal Uddin
- RIoT Research Center, Independent University, Bangladesh, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
- Department of CSE, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
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Murphy J. Engaging with technology: Projects and research initiated by health information professionals. Health Info Libr J 2022; 39:198-200. [DOI: 10.1111/hir.12407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Murphy
- The Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research CHIME University College London London UK
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Imeri A. 10,000 steps a day? Activity trackers, health information literacy and the potential role of Information Science & Health Libraries. Health Info Libr J 2021; 38:157-159. [PMID: 34549515 DOI: 10.1111/hir.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Acknowledging the new ways in which activity tracking technologies (ATTs) such as Apple Watch, Fitbit and Garmin are changing the ways in which we understand human-information interactions, Aylin Imeri calls for information science and health libraries to extend their health information literacy remit to support ATT user information needs.
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Al-Anezi FM. Evaluating the Readiness of Mobile Technology with Respect to e-Heath for Medication in Saudi Arabia: An Integrative Perspective. J Multidiscip Healthc 2021; 14:59-66. [PMID: 33447042 PMCID: PMC7802891 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s287321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the readiness of Saudi Arabian patients towards the adoption of the e-health system through the use of mobile phones. Methods In this research, a cross-sectional survey was carried out using a self-administered structured questionnaire. According to the results, 354 people viewed the questionnaire and 129 respondents were selected to assess the adoption of the e-health system in Saudi Arabia. The data were collected during February–March 2020. Results More than half of the respondents (63.6%) were women and almost half of the participants (48.0%) were married. Most of the surveyed patients suffered from cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Almost all the participants (99.0%) had their personal mobile phone and used the Internet on these devices. Most of the participants did not trust or believe in online health services or online medical consultations and did not spend money on contracting health services through mobile phones. It is suggested that the lack of motivation to adopt the e-health system may be due to fear of privacy violations, fear of loss of personal data and information, lack of technical support, and mistrust in doctors who frequently use their cell phones to distract themselves during work-hours. Conclusion The results of this study revealed that the population of Saudi Arabia is reluctant to adopt the electronic e-health system promoted in the Saudi Vision 2030 strategic plan. To change this behavior, it is necessary to develop awareness campaigns and strategies that suggest the importance of using e-heath in the Saudi Arabian healthcare system. Additionally, it is essential that the network administrator implement procedures to protect the confidentiality and security of patients’ medical records.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahad M Al-Anezi
- Community College, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Alanezi F. Evaluating the Readiness of Mobile Technology in Saudi Arabia: An Integrative Perspective with Respect to E-health (Preprint). JMIR Form Res 2020. [DOI: 10.2196/22896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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