The effectiveness of simulation-based training on KAU hospital housekeeping staff performance.

BACKGROUND: Hospital Housekeeping staff play a key role in maintaining safe and clean environments to prevent infection and its spread in hospital. Innovative training approaches are necessary for this category; especially since their educational level is below average. Simulation based training can be a valuable tool for them in health care sector. However, no studies have explored the impact of simulation-based training on housekeeping staff performance, which is the focus of this study. OBJECTIVE: This research focuses on exploring the effectiveness of simulation-based training for Hospital Housekeeping Staff. METHODS: The study used pre-post training data from 124 housekeeping staff in different work areas at KAUH to measure the effectiveness of the program on their performance. The training includes five segments: General Knowledge training, Personal Protective Equipment, Hand Hygiene, Cleaning Biological Materials, and Terminal Cleaning. The study incorporated a two-sample paired T-test, One-Way ANOVA to detect differences in mean performance pre-and post-training and between groups in terms of gender and work area. RESULTS: Study results show a significant improvement in housekeeping staff performance after the training, where the performance measure of GK was improved by 33%, PPE 42%, HH 53%, Biological Spill Kit is 64%, and terminal cleaning 11% However, there is no significant difference in performance improvements in all stations in regards of gender and work area except for the Biological Spill Kit in terms of the work area. CONCLUSION: Results show the effectiveness of training as there are statistically significant differences in housekeeping staff mean performance pre-and post-training. The simulation-based training changed the behavior of the cleaners, as they became more confident and understanding in performing their work. Expanding the use of simulation as a basis for training this important group and further study is recommended.

Preferences on Policy Options for Ensuring the Financial Sustainability of Healthcare Services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Escalating global health expenditures pose a threat to healthcare financing sustainability, requiring the exploration of alternative financing policies and resource allocation strategies to curb their adverse effects. The aim of this study was to gather insight into the preferences of healthcare workers, including physicians, nurses, allied healthcare professionals, and healthcare administrators, as well as academics in the field of healthcare management and health sciences in Saudi universities, regarding policy options that can secure the financial sustainability of healthcare services in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was employed, and data were collected through an online self-administered survey from August 2022 to December 2022 in Saudi Arabia. The survey garnered responses from 513 participants hailing from all 13 administrative regions in Saudi Arabia. Analyses were performed using non-parametric statistical tests, specifically the two-sample Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test, to determine the statistical significance of differences in the policy ranking and policy feasibility options. Results: The study findings reveal a consensus among stakeholders on the most and least preferred policies. All stakeholders expressed opposition to financing healthcare by diverting resources from defence, social protection, and education, while they favoured policies that entail imposing penalties on health-related issues such as waste management and pollution. Nevertheless, variations among stakeholders were evident in regard to the rankings for specific policies, particularly between healthcare workers and academics. Moreover, the results highlight that tax-based policies are the most feasible approach to generating healthcare funds, despite ranking lower in terms of preferred policies. Conclusion: This study provides a framework for understanding stakeholder preferences on healthcare financing sustainability by ranking 26 policy options according to stakeholder groups. The appropriate mixture of financing mechanisms should be informed by evidence-based and data-driven approaches that consider relevant stakeholder preferences.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Toward COVID-19 Among the Public in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Saudi Arabia has taken unprecedented and stringent preventive and precautionary measures against COVID-19 to control its spread, safeguard citizens and ensure their well-being. Public adherence to preventive measures is influenced by their knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19. This study investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the Saudi public, toward COVID-19, during the pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, using data collected via an online self-reported questionnaire, from 3,388 participants. To assess the differences in mean scores, and identify factors associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19, the data were run through univariate and multivariable regression analyses, respectively. Results: The majority of the study participants were knowledgeable about COVID-19. The mean COVID-19 knowledge score was 17.96 (SD = 2.24, range: 3-22), indicating a high level of knowledge. The mean score for attitude was 28.23 (SD = 2.76, range: 6-30), indicating optimistic attitudes. The mean score for practices was 4.34 (SD = 0.87, range: 0-5), indicating good practices. However, the results showed that men have less knowledge, less optimistic attitudes, and less good practice toward COVID-19, than women. We also found that older adults are likely to have better knowledge and practices, than younger people. Conclusions: Our finding suggests that targeted health education interventions should be directed to this particular vulnerable population, who may be at increased risk of contracting COVID-19. For example, COVID-19 knowledge may increase significantly if health education programs are specifically targeted at men.

Predicting different factors that affect hospital utilization and outcomes Among diabetic patients admitted with hypoglycemia using structural equation modeling.

BACKGROUND: Hypoglycemia (HG) is a common complication among diabetic patients. Many diabetics who experience HG are admitted to hospitals and usually utilize more resources. While plenty of studies examined multiple HG risk factors, there is limited knowledge about the correlation between different risk factors of HG and their impact on utilization. OBJECTIVE: To identify key factors influencing utilization among diabetic HG patients and to examine the mechanisms and interactions between those factors. DESIGN: A quantitative, non-experimental, and retrospective design that is based on the selection of the study subjects from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National database for the years of 2012-2014. We employed Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use as the main framework for this study. RESULTS: Structural Equation Modeling was used as the main multivariate statistical method for the analysis. Total sample size was 4822 patients. We found that diabetes complications, renal disease, hypertension, and high Charlson comorbidity index score had the strongest impact on length of stay (LoS) as well as total charge. Geographical location of patients strongly influenced total charge. Age had an indirect impact on LoS and total charge. LIMITATIONS: The use of secondary data seems to be the primary limitation for this study as some relevant risk factors for hypoglycemia were not available in the database. CONCLUSIONS: This study examined the multilevel character of different factors leading to high utilization of healthcare services among HG patients admitted to hospitals. Findings of this study help clinicians and policy makers to formulate policies and protocols that aid in providing efficient care to HG patients with less utilization of resources.