Impact of Virtual Disaster Collaboration Exercises on Disaster Leadership at Hospitals in Saudi Arabia

AbstractThis study measured the impact of virtual three-level collaboration (3LC) exercises on participants’ perceived levels of collaboration, learning, and utility (CLU) at hospitals in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. Our 3LC exercise is a tabletop training tool used to facilitate disaster education and document CLU. This model enables the practitioner to acquire new knowledge and promotes active learning. An English version of the CLU scale, the validated Swedish survey tool, was applied to 100 healthcare managers or leaders in various positions at both the operational and tactical levels after conducting the 3LC exercises. The response rate was 100%, although not all questions were answered in some cases. The results show that most participants strongly agreed that the exercises focused on collaboration (r2 = 0.767) and that they had acquired new knowledge during the exercises. There was a statistically significant association between participation in the collaboration exercises and perceived learning (r2 = 0.793), as well as between perceived learning and utility (r2 = 0.811). The collaboration exercises enhance the perceived effects of CLU. They also improve the ability of participants to adapt situational strategies to achieve a safer society. Although exercises were conducted virtually, they were well received by the participants and achieved a value M = 4.4 CLU score, which opens up new dimensions in collaboration simulation exercises.

Download Full-text

AXIOLOGICAL GUIDELINES FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE KAZAKH MEDIA DISCOURSE: LINGUISTIC AND COGNITIVE ASPECT

BULLETIN Series of Philological Sciences ◽

10.51889/2020-2.1728-7804.07 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 72 (2) ◽

pp. 52-60

Author(s):

G. Kazhigalieva ◽

◽

G. Orynkhanova ◽

B. Karimova ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spiritual Development ◽

New Technologies ◽

Media Discourse ◽

Cognitive Aspect ◽

A Value ◽

New Knowledge ◽

Public Consciousness ◽

The Media ◽

Repeated Use ◽

The Impact

The article is devoted to the ideological concepts of "New" and "Unity", which represent the modernization processes in the country in the kazakh media and are focused on the transformation of public consciousness. The impact of these concepts, according to the authors of the article, is based on their value component,linguistic and cognitivemechanisms of verbalization of concepts are based on techniques that emphasize their axiological character. Methods of persuasion and emotional influence are used, such as: gradation use of the key lexeme; metaphorization; emphasis on the word (repeated use of it); designation of time as a value argument, etc. It is revealed that the concept "New" represents such positive value settings in the media as: new opportunities, new knowledge, spiritual development, competitiveness, openness, new technologies, and innovations. The concept of "unity" is verbalized by the axiological guidelines consolidation, tolerance, interethnic harmony, and a unified future. It is determined that the key axiological attitude, represented in the kazakh media using various explicit and implicit linguistic and cognitivemeans, is "New and unity is the way to success in the future".

Download Full-text

National Responses and Economic Strategies to Address COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia

Journal of Southwest Jiaotong University ◽

10.35741/issn.0258-2724.55.6.30 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 55 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Nurunnabi ◽

Hisham Mohammed Alhawal ◽

Reema Yousef Abdulla Al Bassam

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Private Sector ◽

Economic Transformation ◽

A Value ◽

Government Documents ◽

Economic Strategies ◽

Vision 2030 ◽

The Government ◽

The Impact

This study aims to explore national responses and strategies to address the challenges to Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilized various government documents, newspapers and local and international reports. This research finds that the Saudi government of thoroughly evaluated the circumstances and has announced a set of urgent moves amounting to 142 initiatives targeting individuals, private sector enterprises and investors, with a value exceeding SR 214 billion. The government has made significant efforts to keep employment and markets stable. This is one of the very first studies of the Saudi government’s response to the impact of COVID-19 on the private sector and the overall economy. The Kingdom seeks to support the private sector in order to achieve the goals that Saudi Arabia seeks in its economic transformation and in line with its Vision 2030.

Download Full-text

Influence of social networks on business processes’ development

Economic Analysis Theory and Practice ◽

10.24891/ea.19.12.2225 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (12) ◽

pp. 2225-2252

Author(s):

E.V. Popov ◽

V.L. Simonova ◽

O.V. Komarova ◽

S.S. Kaigorodova

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

Social Media ◽

Business Models ◽

Business Processes ◽

Digital Economy ◽

Theoretical Understanding ◽

Sales Channels ◽

A Value ◽

The Impact

Subject. The emergence of new ways of interaction between sellers and buyers, the formation of new sales channels and product promotion based on the use of digital economy tools is at the heart of improving the business processes. Social networks became a tool for development; their rapid growth necessitates theoretical understanding and identification of potential application in enterprise's business process digitalization. Objectives. We explore the role of social media in the digitalization of business processes, systematize the impact of social networks on business processes of enterprises in the digital economy. Methods. The theoretical and methodological analysis of social networks as a tool for digitalization of company's business processes rests on the content analysis of domestic and foreign scientific studies, comparison, generalization and systematization. Results. We highlight the key effects of the impact of social networks on the business processes of the company; show that the digitalization of business processes should be considered in the context of a value-based approach, aimed at creating a value through the algorithmization of company operations. We determine that social networks are one of the most important tools for digitalization of company's business processes, as they have a high organizational and management potential. We also systematize the effects of social media on company's business processes. Conclusions. We present theoretical provisions of the impact of social networks on business processes of enterprises, which will enable to model and organize ideas about the development of digital ecosystems and the formation of business models.

Download Full-text

The impact of bariatric surgery on the quality of life of obese individuals in Saudi Arabia

International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries ◽

10.24911/ijmdc.51-1602926149 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 29-36

Author(s):

Khaled Alghamdi ◽

Feras Aljohani ◽

Ala Alrehaili ◽

Ahmed Alhusayni ◽

Turki Alrehaili ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Bariatric Surgery ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

The Impact of Big Data on Electronic Commerce in Profit Organisations in Saudi Arabia

Research in World Economy ◽

10.5430/rwe.v10n4p106 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 106

Author(s):

Bader A. Alyoubi

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Big Data ◽

Inventory Management ◽

New Technologies ◽

Predictive Analytics ◽

Business Environment ◽

Primary Data ◽

Research Approach ◽

Multiple Sources ◽

The Impact

Big Data is gaining rapid popularity in e-commerce sector across the globe. There is a general consensus among experts that Saudi organisations are late in adopting new technologies. It is generally believed that the lack of research in latest technologies that are specific to Saudi Arabia that is culturally, socially, and economically different from the West, is one of the key factors for the delay in technology adoption in Saudi Arabia. Hence, to fill this gap to a certain extent and create awareness about Big Data technology, the primary goal of this research was to identify the impact of Big Data on e-commerce organisations in Saudi Arabia. Internet has changed the business environment of Saudi Arabia too. E-commerce is set for achieving new heights due to latest technological advancements. A qualitative research approach was used by conducting interviews with highly experienced professional to gather primary data. Using multiple sources of evidence, this research found out that traditional databases are not capable of handling massive data. Big Data is a promising technology that can be adopted by e-commerce companies in Saudi Arabia. Big Data’s predictive analytics will certainly help e-commerce companies to gain better insight of the consumer behaviour and thus offer customised products and services. The key finding of this research is that Big Data has a significant impact in e-commerce organisations in Saudi Arabia on various verticals like customer retention, inventory management, product customisation, and fraud detection.

Download Full-text

The Geriatric Medication Game to Raise Community Pharmacists’ Awareness on Older Adults’ Day-to-Day Challenges

Saudi Journal of Health Systems Research ◽

10.1159/000516346 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Aisha F. Badr

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Learning Process ◽

Community Pharmacists ◽

The Elderly ◽

Learning Activity ◽

Simulation Games ◽

Self Reflection ◽

Satisfaction Rate ◽

The Impact

Introduction: In Saudi Arabia; it is estimated that the elderly (aged 60 and above) would reach up to (22.9%) by 2050, compared to (5.6%) in 2017. Simulation games have proven to be a useful and effective method of education in pharmacy schools, as it actively involves participants in the learning process. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the modified geriatric medication game on community pharmacists’ awareness and attitudes toward older adults with common disabilities. Methods: A modified geriatric medication game was adopted to stimulate both physical and sensory disabilities in older adults. A total of 9 community pharmacists were gathered in 1 room and were asked to play 2 scenarios each. Self-reflection was assessed and ground theories were analyzed. Results: All pharmacists felt frustration and anger playing the game (100%), followed by becoming more aware of the extra time and guidance needed with older adults and realized how disabling chronic diseases could be, and felt they needed to improve common perceived attitude towards the elderly (88.89%). Pharmacists also felt empathy, sympathy, and compassion towards this population, needed improvement of common perceived attitude towards older adults, and felt the need to double check with older adults if they have any disabilities before counseling (77.78%). Finally, over half pharmacists (55.5%) wished they had more training on geriatrics during pharmacy school and the need for further review of Beer’s criteria. All pharmacists were satisfied with the game and recommended it to all community pharmacists. Conclusion: Simulation games are a great way to strengthen awareness and change practice accordingly. Pharmacists improved their awareness and attitude towards the elderly and reported a positive perceived value of this learning activity; with a 100% satisfaction rate. Adding a geriatric course with simulation component is recommended for better geriatric care.

Download Full-text

COVID-19 Psychological Impact on Health Care Workers in Saudi Arabia

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18116076 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 6076

Author(s):

Hasan S. Alamri ◽

Wesam F. Mousa ◽

Abdullah Algarni ◽

Shehata F. Megahid ◽

Ali Al Bshabshe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Psychological Outcomes ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers ◽

The Impact

Objective: Little is known about the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) among the health care workers in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 among the health care workers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May till mid-July among 389 health care workers from government and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a pre-structured online questionnaire that measured adverse psychological outcomes, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. The Pearson chi-square test was used to assess the distribution of depression and anxiety among health care workers. Results: A high level of anxiety was recorded among the health care workers, and 69.3% of health care workers below the age of 40 were found to have depression. There was a significant increase in depression among staff with chronic health problems (72.1% vs. 61.9%; p = 0.048). High anxiety levels were detected among young staff compared to others (68.7% vs. 43.8%; p = 0.001). Moreover, 82.1% of the female staff were anxious, as compared to 55.6% of the males (p = 0.001). Conclusions: We found increased prevalence of adverse psychological outcomes among the health care workers in Saudi Arabia during the outbreak of COVID-19. Therefore, there is a need for proper screening and development of corresponding preventive measures to decrease the adverse psychological outcomes.

Download Full-text

Characteristics of visits and predictors of admission from a paediatric emergency room in Saudi Arabia

BMC Emergency Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12873-021-00467-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad H. Al-Qahtani ◽

Abdullah A. Yousef ◽

Bassam H. Awary ◽

Waleed H. Albuali ◽

Mohammed A. Al Ghamdi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Hospital Admission ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Total Sample ◽

Age Group ◽

Chi Squared ◽

Improper Use ◽

Level Shifts ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background The Emergency Repartment (ER) is one of the most used areas in healthcare institutions. Problems with over utilisation and overcrowding have been reported worldwide. This study aims at examining the characteristics of paediatric ER visits, the rate of hospital admissions and its associated predictors at King Fahd Hospital of the University in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods This is a retrospective, medical record-based study. Variables included gender, age group, nationality, complaints, Triage level, shifts and seasons. Descriptive statistics were reported as frequencies/percentages. P-values were obtained through a Chi-Squared test while unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios were estimated by binary logistic regression, where admission was considered as the outcome. Results The total number of paediatric patients included was 46,374, and only 2.5% were admitted. Males comprised 55.4% while females comprised 44.6%. The most common age group were toddlers, and 92.4% of the total sample were Saudis. The most common complaint was fever (26.9%) followed by respiratory symptoms (24.9%). Only 7 patients (0.02%) were classified as triage I (Resuscitation), and most were triage IV (Less urgent) (71.0%). Most visits occurred during the winter months. Adjusted ORs showed that neonates had higher odds of admission (OR = 3.85, 95%CI = 2.57–5.76). Moreover, those presenting with haematological conditions showed an OR of 65.49 (95%CI = 47.85–89.64), followed by endocrine conditions showing an OR of 34.89 (95%CI = 23.65–51.47). Triage I had a very high odds of admission (OR = 19.02, 95%CI = 2.70–133.76), whereas triage V was associated with a very low odds of admission (OR = 0.30, 95%CI = 0.23–0.38). Conclusions A low rate of hospital admission was found in comparison with other rates worldwide. This was mostly attributed to an alarmingly high number of non-urgent ER visits. This further emphasises the problem with improper use of ER services, as these cases should be more appropriately directed towards primary healthcare centres. Further studies to examine the impact of prioritising patients in the ER based on the identified predictors of hospital admission, in addition to the standard triage system, are suggested.

Download Full-text

Perception and Knowledge of Patients from Different Regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards Oral Hygiene and Oral Hygiene Aids

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9050592 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 592

Author(s):

Shamoukh Alshahrani ◽

Abrar Alshuaibi ◽

Malak Alkhaldi ◽

Pradeep Koppolu

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Oral Hygiene ◽

Educational Program ◽

Response Rate ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dental Floss ◽

Survey Response Rate ◽

Structured Questionnaire

Aim: The present study aims to evaluate the perception and awareness of interdental aids in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted, in order to evaluate the perception and knowledge of patients towards oral hygiene products among the population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In total, 812 out of 1124 participants responded and completed the survey (response rate 72.2%). The data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire in English and Arabic. All statistical analyses were carried out using the SPSS 20 software. p < 0.05 was used to indicate statistical significance. Results: A total of 812 participants responded, of which 486 participants (60%) declared using a toothpaste and toothbrush for cleaning their teeth. The cohort consisted of 274 (34%) females who brushed twice daily, while 96 (33%) males brushed their teeth once a day and 18% of the participants did not even brush once a day. The results indicated that 332 (64%) female participants and 174 (60%) male participants had perception and knowledge of the use of dental floss or any other device to clean between their teeth, while 174 (48.50%) male participants and 174 (49.10%) female participants cleaned their tongue with the same brush, rather than using a tongue scrubber or any other aids. Conclusion: The total awareness of interdental aids in Saudi Arabia is unsatisfactory, as demonstrated by the participants not being conscious or informed about the maintenance of their oral health. A majority of participants did not report adopting basic techniques, such as tongue brushing. This study reveals that no interdental aids were used by 16% of the participants. Thus, it is crucial to develop an effective educational program which emphasizes oral healthcare in this population.

Download Full-text

Determining the Role of Acidity, Fate and Formation of IEPOX-Derived SOA in CMAQ

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12060707 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 707

Author(s):

Petros Vasilakos ◽

Yongtao Hu ◽

Armistead Russell ◽

Athanasios Nenes

Keyword(s):

Significant Influence ◽

Organic Aerosol ◽

Liquid Water Content ◽

Anthropogenic Emissions ◽

So2 Emissions ◽

Aerosol Acidity ◽

A Value ◽

Future Emission ◽

The Impact

Formation of aerosol from biogenic hydrocarbons relies heavily on anthropogenic emissions since they control the availability of species such as sulfate and nitrate, and through them, aerosol acidity (pH). To elucidate the role that acidity and emissions play in regulating Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA), we utilize the 2013 Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS) dataset to enhance the extensive mechanism of isoprene epoxydiol (IEPOX)-mediated SOA formation implemented in the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model (Pye et al., 2013), which was then used to investigate the impact of potential future emission controls on IEPOX OA. We found that the Henry’s law coefficient for IEPOX was the most impactful parameter that controls aqueous isoprene OA products, and a value of 1.9 × 107 M atm−1 provides the best agreement with measurements. Non-volatile cations (NVCs) were found in higher-than-expected quantities in CMAQ and exerted a significant influence on IEPOX OA by reducing its production by as much as 30% when present. Consistent with previous literature, a strong correlation of isoprene OA with sulfate, and little correlation with acidity or liquid water content, was found. Future reductions in SO2 emissions are found to not affect this correlation and generally act to increase the sensitivity of IEPOX OA to sulfate, even in extreme cases.

Download Full-text