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Arbaein TJ, Alharbi KK, Alfahmi AA, Alharthi KO, Monshi SS, Alzahrani AM, Alkabi S. Makkah healthcare cluster response, challenges, and interventions during COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. J Infect Public Health 2024; 17:975-985. [PMID: 38631067 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global COVID-19 crisis has underscored the critical role of effective decision-making in healthcare systems. Saudi Arabia has shown resilience by implementing comprehensive testing, tracing, and vaccination measures. Given the unique cultural and religious characteristics of Makkah, specific challenges have prompted efforts to uncover local pandemic responses. This qualitative assessment aims to delineate the challenges faced by decision-makers during COVID-19 in Makkah and identify key interventions implemented by the Makkah healthcare cluster to manage and coordinate care. METHOD Utilizing a purposive sampling approach, executive leaders within the Makkah Healthcare Cluster were invited for semi-structured interviews during the COVID-19 period. Thematic analysis was carried out in five steps, ensuring rigor and trustworthiness through multiple checks, and employing a critical and collaborative approach. RESULT Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak in Makkah, participants revealed Several factors that have hindered healthcare organizations' ability to effectively manage the pandemic, including testing difficulties, resource shortages, vaccination misconceptions, continuity of care issues, infections among healthcare workers, and the need for consistent protocols. The participant leaders in Makkah's healthcare cluster specified implemented strategies that helped in overcoming the encountered challenges, such as adopting new technologies, enhancing communication, managing supply and demand, and improving workforce adaptability and development. Their experience in managing Hajj and Umrah provided valuable insights for handling the pandemic effectively. CONCLUSION The study emphasizes the significance of technology adoption, effective communication, supply management, workforce development, and lessons from managing religious events. Its findings have implications for healthcare systems globally, emphasizing the importance of preparedness, response, and resilience in diverse cultural contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turky J Arbaein
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Khulud K Alharbi
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afrah A Alfahmi
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khawlah O Alharthi
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah S Monshi
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali M Alzahrani
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sanaa Alkabi
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
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Arbaein TJ, Alharbi KK, Alzhrani AA, Monshi SS, Alzahrani AM, Alsadi TM. The assessment of readiness to change among head managers of primary healthcare centers in Makkah, KSA. J Taibah Univ Med Sci 2024; 19:453-459. [PMID: 38510063 PMCID: PMC10950747 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2024.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background KSA is currently undergoing significant changes in its healthcare system, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the role of primary healthcare centers (PHCs) to elevate patient experience and overall healthcare quality. At the forefront of this transformation are head managers in PHCs, who play a crucial role in implementing these changes effectively. The readiness of these managers is paramount to the successful execution of the envisioned transformation and the subsequent improvement of patient experience. Objective This study aims to assess the readiness to change among head managers of primary healthcare centers in Makkah, KSA. Methodology Cross-sectional study utilized the ADKAR model questionnaire, consisting of 22 Likert scale questions, to assess PHCs head managers' awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, reinforcement, and overall change readiness. Results The study found a significant association between higher educational levels and increased awareness (β = 0.214, p = 0.030), along with greater desire (β = 0.207, p = 0.029) among primary healthcare (PHC) managers. Additionally, a positive association was found between age (≥41 years) and knowledge among PHC managers (β = 0.138, p = 0.030). However, managers with 11 or more years of experience showed a negative association with change readiness (β = -0.112, p = 0.001). Conclusion The ADKAR model outlines five dimensions that are useful for identifying the readiness and willingness of head managers in PHCs in Makkah cluster to undergo change. Assessing change readiness is crucial for organizational transformation, with head managers playing a significant role. Factors such as age, education, and experience influence managers' readiness for change in primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Makkah.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turky J. Arbaein
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, KSA
| | - Khulud K. Alharbi
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, KSA
| | - Abdulrhman A. Alzhrani
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, KSA
| | - Sarah S. Monshi
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, KSA
| | - Ali M. Alzahrani
- Department of Health Administration and Hospital, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, KSA
| | - Talal M. Alsadi
- Al Awali Primary Healthcare Department, Makkah Healthcare Cluster, KSA
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Alharbi KK, Alvi SH, Ali B, Mirza J, Javed MA, Alharbi HA. Reliable relay assisted communications for IoT based fall detection. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6249. [PMID: 38491039 PMCID: PMC10942986 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56124-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Robust wireless communication using relaying system and Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) will be extensively used for future IoT applications. In this paper, we consider a fall detection IoT application in which elderly patients are equipped with wearable motion sensors. Patient motion data is sent to fog data servers via a NOMA-based relaying system, thereby improving the communication reliability. We analyze the average signal-to-interference-plus-noise (SINR) performance of the NOMA-based relaying system, where the source node transmits two different symbols to the relay and destination node by employing superposition coding over Rayleigh fading channels. In the amplify-and-forward (AF) based relaying, the relay re-transmits the received signal after amplification, whereas, in the decode-and-forward (DF) based relaying, the relay only re-transmits the symbol having lower NOMA power coefficient. We derive closed-form average SINR expressions for AF and DF relaying systems using NOMA. The average SINR expressions for AF and DF relaying systems are derived in terms of computationally efficient functions, namely Tricomi confluent hypergeometric and Meijer's G functions. Through simulations, it is shown that the average SINR values computed using the derived analytical expressions are in excellent agreement with the simulation-based average SINR results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khulud K Alharbi
- Department of Health Administration and Hospitals, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Sajid H Alvi
- Department of Physics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
| | - Bakhtiar Ali
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
| | - Jawad Mirza
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Awais Javed
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
| | - Hatem A Alharbi
- Department of Computer Engineering, College of Computer Science and Engineering, Taibah University, 42353, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
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Nour MO, Hafiz TA, Alharbi KK. Measuring the relationship between body mass index and depression among Saudi adult population: A nationwide cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293799. [PMID: 37972096 PMCID: PMC10653455 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of obesity and depression shows an accelerating trend with increased risk of morbidity and disability. The exact underlying relationship between them is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of body mass index (BMI) and depression and their associations in a large sample of Saudi adults. METHODS We administered a nationwide cross-sectional web-based survey using a snowball sampling method among Saudi adults aged 18-60 years. We used a validated Arabic version of Beck's Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) for depression assessment. We classified BMI into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. We used logistic regression analysis to determine the factors associated with depression. RESULTS Among 4,683 Saudi adults, different grades of depression were present in 43.3%, most (25.2%) with a mild condition. Overweight and obesity were present in 26.4% and 21%, respectively. We found a positive association between BMI and BDI-II score (ρ = 0.14, p = 0.006). BMI was significantly higher among those who were older, males, married, living in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia, educated at a pre-university level, employed, at high family-income levels, smokers, and people with chronic diseases. Depression score was significantly higher among married, non-employees, non-smokers, people with chronic diseases, and those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. Non-smoking, presence of chronic diseases, and being overweight or obese were significantly associated with depression. CONCLUSIONS Saudi adults were suffering from different grades of depression, overweight, and obesity. A positive association between BMI and BDI-II score was observed. Depression score did not differ by age, sex, geographical region, educational level, or family income. Non-smoking, presence of chronic diseases, and being overweight or obese were significantly associated with depression. Further longitudinal research is required to understand the factors underpinning causal relationships between BMI and depression, the subgroups' variation, and mediating strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed O. Nour
- Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health & Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Tamara Abdulrahman Hafiz
- Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health & Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Khulud K. Alharbi
- Department of Health Services Management, Faculty of Public Health & Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Alharbi KK, Arbaein TJ, Alzhrani AA, Alzahrani AM, Monshi SS, Alotaibi AFM, Aljasser AI, Alruhaimi KT, Alotaibi SDK, Alsultan AK, Arafat MS, Aldhabib A, Abd-Ellatif EE. Factors Affecting the Length of Stay in the Intensive Care Unit among Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6787. [PMID: 37959252 PMCID: PMC10649797 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12216787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to assess patient-related factors associated with the LOS among adults admitted to the ICU in Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Health provided a cross-sectional dataset for 2021, which served as the data source for this study. The data included data on adults admitted to different ICUs at various hospitals. The number of days spent in the ICU was the outcome variable of interest. The potential predictors were age, sex, and nationality, as well as clinical data from the time of admission. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were used to analyse the association between the predictors and the ICU LOS and characterize how they were distributed. We used negative binomial regression to examine the relationship between the study predictors and the ICU LOS. A total of 42,884 individuals were included in this study, of whom 25,520 were men and 17,362 were women. The overall median ICU LOS was three days. This study showed that the ICU LOS was highly influenced by the patient's age, sex, nationality, source of admission, and clinical history. Several predictors that affect how long adults stay in the ICU in Saudi Arabian hospitals were identified in this study. These factors can be attributed to variances in health care delivery systems, patient demographics, and cultural considerations. To allocate resources efficiently, enhance patient outcomes, and create focused treatments to reduce ICU LOS, it is essential to comprehend these elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khulud K. Alharbi
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia; (T.J.A.); (A.A.A.); (A.M.A.); (S.S.M.)
| | - Turky J. Arbaein
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia; (T.J.A.); (A.A.A.); (A.M.A.); (S.S.M.)
| | - Abdulrhman A. Alzhrani
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia; (T.J.A.); (A.A.A.); (A.M.A.); (S.S.M.)
| | - Ali M. Alzahrani
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia; (T.J.A.); (A.A.A.); (A.M.A.); (S.S.M.)
| | - Sarah S. Monshi
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia; (T.J.A.); (A.A.A.); (A.M.A.); (S.S.M.)
| | - Adel Fahad M. Alotaibi
- Department of Preventive Health, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 13717, Saudi Arabia; (A.F.M.A.); (A.I.A.); (K.T.A.); (S.D.K.A.)
| | - Areej I. Aljasser
- Department of Preventive Health, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 13717, Saudi Arabia; (A.F.M.A.); (A.I.A.); (K.T.A.); (S.D.K.A.)
| | - Khalil Thawahi Alruhaimi
- Department of Preventive Health, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 13717, Saudi Arabia; (A.F.M.A.); (A.I.A.); (K.T.A.); (S.D.K.A.)
| | - Satam Dhafallah K. Alotaibi
- Department of Preventive Health, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 13717, Saudi Arabia; (A.F.M.A.); (A.I.A.); (K.T.A.); (S.D.K.A.)
| | - Ali K. Alsultan
- Emergency Medicine, Saudi Medical Appointment and Referral Center, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 13717, Saudi Arabia; (A.K.A.); (M.S.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Mohammed S. Arafat
- Emergency Medicine, Saudi Medical Appointment and Referral Center, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 13717, Saudi Arabia; (A.K.A.); (M.S.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Abdulrahman Aldhabib
- Emergency Medicine, Saudi Medical Appointment and Referral Center, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 13717, Saudi Arabia; (A.K.A.); (M.S.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Eman E. Abd-Ellatif
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt;
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Monshi SS, Alanazi AMM, Alzahrani AM, Alzhrani AA, Arbaein TJ, Alharbi KK, Z Alqahtani M, Alzahrani AH, A Elkhobby A, Almazrou AM, Al-Zalabani AH. Awareness and utilization of smoking cessation clinics in Saudi Arabia, findings from the 2019 Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2023; 18:33. [PMID: 37322497 PMCID: PMC10268372 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-023-00543-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tobacco use remains a leading cause of premature death. To combat tobacco use, the Ministry of Health (MOH) improved access to smoking cessation clinics (SCCs) by developing fixed SCCs and mobile SCCs, which move based on demand across locations. The goal of this study was to investigate awareness and utilization of SCCs among tobacco users in Saudi Arabia and the factors that influence their awareness and utilization. METHOD This cross-sectional study used the 2019 Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Three outcome variables were employed, including tobacco users' awareness of fixed SCCs, mobile SCCs, and utilization of fixed SCCs. Several independent variables were examined, including sociodemographic characteristics and tobacco use. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS One thousand six hundred sixty-seven tobacco users were included in this study. There were 60%, 26%, and 9% of tobacco users who were aware of fixed SCCs, aware of mobile SCCs, and visited fixed SCCs, respectively. The likelihood of being aware of SCCs increased among users residing in urban areas (fixed SCCs: OR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.31-2.68; mobile SCCs: OR = 2.09; CI = 1.37-3.17) while it decreased among those reported self-employed (fixed SCCs: OR = 0.31; CI = 0.17-0.56; mobile SCCs: OR = 0.42; CI = 0.20-0.89). The likelihood of visiting fixed SCCs increased among educated tobacco users aged 25-34 (OR = 5.61; CI = 1.73-18.21) and 35-44 (OR = 4.22; CI = 1.07-16.64) while the odds of visiting SCCs decreased among those who were working in the private sector (OR = 0.26; CI = 0.09-0.73). CONCLUSION The decision to quit smoking must be supported by an effective healthcare system that provides accessible and affordable smoking cessation services. Knowing the factors that influence the awareness and utilization of SCCs would help policymakers dedicate efforts targeting those who desire to quit smoking yet face limitations in using SCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah S Monshi
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdullah M M Alanazi
- Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali M Alzahrani
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrhman A Alzhrani
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Turky J Arbaein
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khulud K Alharbi
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Ali H Alzahrani
- Tobacco Control Program at Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed A Elkhobby
- Tobacco Control Program at Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Abdulmohsen H Al-Zalabani
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia
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K Alharbi K, A Hafiz T. The Effects of Hand Preference on Measures of Psychological Well-Being in a Sample of Older Adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2023; 15:e39058. [PMID: 37323329 PMCID: PMC10267294 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.39058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Generally, being left-handed has been linked to poorer mental health and quality of life. However, given that few studies have investigated these links in Saudi Arabia and that the prevalence of mental illness in the general population is rising, it is important to explore whether left-handedness can be considered a risk factor in a sizable, general population. AIM To investigate whether left-handers experience psychological well-being or good quality of life. METHODS A cross-sectional study among adults in Saudi Arabia was conducted from March 6, 2022 to February 27, 2023. RESULTS The study included (N = 2862) respondents who met the inclusion criteria, with an average age of 28.95 years. Left-handed individuals made up 31.7%, whereas right-handed individuals made up 60.3%, and ambidextrous individuals made up 7.9% of the population. Using the Mental Health Quality of Life questionnaire (MHQoL-7D) scoring manual, the quality of life for both left-and right-handers was evaluated. Those who were right-handed had a higher quality of life than those who were left-handed. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was conducted, and the findings showed that neither the left-handed nor the right-handed group significantly differed in their levels of poor quality of life or psychological well-being. CONCLUSION Using the left or the right hand had no effect on one's quality of life or degree of well-being. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to examine this result in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khulud K Alharbi
- Department of Health Services Management, Faculty of Public Health & Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU
| | - Tamara A Hafiz
- Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health & Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU
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Monshi SS, Arbaein TJ, Alzhrani AA, Alzahrani AM, Alharbi KK, Alfahmi A, Alqahatani M, Alzahrani AH, Yaqoob A, Almazroua A, Alanazi AMM. Factors associated with the desire to quit tobacco smoking in Saudi Arabia: Evidence from the 2019 Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Tob Induc Dis 2023; 21:33. [PMID: 36875735 PMCID: PMC9983308 DOI: 10.18332/tid/159735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Saudi Arabia is expected to witness a slight reduction in tobacco use. The Saudi government offers free-of-charge smoking cessation services. Yet, factors influencing the desire to quit smoking are not comprehensively investigated in Saudi Arabia. This study examines the factors influencing the desire to quit among smoking adults in Saudi Arabia and investigates whether using alternative tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, is associated with the desire to quit smoking. METHODS Data from the 2019 nationally representative Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS) was used. GATS utilized a face-to-face household cross-sectional survey that collected data from adults aged ≥15 years. Several factors including, sociodemographic characteristics, use of alternative tobacco products, attitude toward tobacco control, and awareness of smoking cessation clinics (SCCs), were examined to predict the desire to quit. Logistic regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS A total of 11381 individuals completed the survey. Of the total sample, 1667 participants were tobacco smokers. The majority of the tobacco smokers were interested in quitting smoking (82.4%); 58% of cigarette smokers and 17.1% of waterpipe smokers were interested in quitting smoking. The desire to quit smoking was positively associated with the awareness of SCCs (AOR=3; 95% CI: 1.8-5), attitude toward raising tobacco taxes (AOR=2.3; 95% CI: 1.4-3.8), and a strict rule of smoking inside the home (AOR=2; 95% CI: 1.1-3.9). No statistical association was found between the desire to quit smoking and the use of e-cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS The desire to quit tobacco smoking among Saudi smokers increased with awareness of SCCs, favoring taxes on tobacco products, and implementing strict rules of smoking inside the home. The study reveals valuable insights into the main factors that could inform the development of more effective policy interventions targeting smokers in Saudi Arabia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah S Monshi
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Turky J Arbaein
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrhman A Alzhrani
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali M Alzahrani
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khulud K Alharbi
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afrah Alfahmi
- Department of Health Services Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Ali H Alzahrani
- Tobacco Control Program, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Yaqoob
- Tobacco Control Program, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Abdullah M M Alanazi
- Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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