Background. Lack of knowledge about appropriate handwashing practices has caused great concerns for human health, especially in the risk of many communicable diseases. The objective of the current study is to determine the level of handwashing knowledge, attitudes, and practices among school students in Eastern Province Schools, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey was recruited from November 2019 to March 2020 to assess the level of the students’ handwashing knowledge. A reliable questionnaire was prepared (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.608) and conducted using a two-stage sampling technique. A total of 271 students participated in the study from primary, middle, and high schools; 80% were boys, most of whom displayed an acceptable level of knowledge on hand hygiene. Nearly 75% and 74% of boys and girls, respectively, gained knowledge about hand hygiene practices from their parents. Only 46% of the students thought that handwashing is a potential protective measure against diseases, whereas 34% thought it only removes dirt. Prevalence of handwashing with soap after using the toilet was recognized among 52% of the students. Additionally, 93% of the students used water and soap to wash their hands ( value < 0.001) and 97% suggested that soap and water are the best methods to wash their hands ( value < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between the mother’s education and hand hygiene practices ( value = 0.044). Results collectively indicated that handwashing knowledge and practices among school students in the Eastern Province are acceptable interventions in preventing the transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Indeed, further improvement conducted through specific health education programs to emphasize the role of handwashing in health hygiene is highly recommended.

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Introduction: Telemedicine has become a critical aspect of healthcare provision during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). However, healthcare providers’ utilization of and satisfaction with telemedicine technologies could have a significant impact on the quality of care provided to patients during COVID-19. The current study explores the key factors that could affect healthcare providers’ satisfaction with telemedicine in ambulatory care during the pandemic. Objectives: This research study aims at identifying the factors that could influence the healthcare providers’ satisfaction level with the use of telemedicine in ambulatory care services in Saudi Arabia during COVID 19. Methods: This is a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study. The research team has utilized the Service Quality Model (SERVQUAL) to assess the healthcare providers’ satisfaction with telemedicine in ambulatory care through a questionnaire that was adapted from previous studies. This questionnaire includes the following dimensions: tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. It was distributed to all ambulatory care physicians in a public hospital-based ambulatory health center in Eastern Region, Saudi Arabia. Results: The study findings showed that Saudis are significantly more satisfied with telemedicine compared to non-Saudis. Age, gender, experience, medical specialty, and computer literacy skills were not found to have any significant effects on the level of the provider’s satisfaction. Conclusion: This research provides new insight and understanding of the relationship between the frequent use of the health information system and the level of physician satisfaction. This major finding puts more emphasis on the importance of education and training when it comes to the adoption of telemedicine through the frequent use of health information systems and applications. These encouraging findings provide a vital piece of information for healthcare organizations interested in a further adoption of telemedicinal practices and applications.

Background: This study aims to assess and compare patient trust in public vs private physicians and to determine the factors that can affect the level of trust in the context of the KSA. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the KSA to assess patient trust in physicians. A questionnaire was administered in both Arabic and English to patients above 18 years of age via online channels. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the level of trust in public vs private physicians, where the public physicians showed higher patients’ trust scores compared to private physicians, where the mean was 2.51 (SD=0.60) and 2.29 (SD=0.56), respectively, P-value< 0.001. A statistically significant difference was also found between self-assessment health status (SAHS) groups (F(3)=11.429, P=0.010). Other factors were not significantly associated. Conclusion: This study found that public physicians engender a higher level of patient trust than private physicians. A further qualitative study should be conducted in the future to investigate the reasons behind the high trust in public physicians in the KSA. Practice Implications: The results of this study open doors for new investigations that might result in the implementation of new interventions to promote patient trust in the healthcare journey in KSA.

Background: The Saudi Arabian Vision 2030 encompasses the Health Sector Transformation Program (HSTP), an initiative aimed at enhancing the accessibility, affordability, and quality of healthcare, with a strong emphasis on patient-centered care. To achieve this vision, the government has been providing training to Primary Healthcare (PHC) centers on patient-centered care, recognizing that spending quality time with patients is crucial for making informed clinical decisions. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate provider satisfaction with the quality of services they provide and assess the impact of organizational factors on care quality. This study represents the first comprehensive assessment of job satisfaction among PHC providers in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. It seeks to gauge job satisfaction among PHC providers and explore its associated impact on the quality of care they deliver. Methods: This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design. Data were collected using a modified version of the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), supplemented by three newly added dimensions. Additionally, questions addressing general characteristics were incorporated into the survey instrument. Data analysis involved calculating frequencies and percentages for univariate analysis, employing t-tests for comparisons between two groups, and utilizing ANOVA for comparisons among multiple groups (bivariate analysis). Results: A total of 143 PHC providers took part in this study. Of these, 48% reported high satisfaction, while the rest were either dissatisfied or neutral. PHC providers were highly satisfied with supervision (17%, N=94). On the other hand, they were dissatisfied with contingent rewards (3%, N=15). There was a significant difference found between the intention to leave the job (yes, no) and job satisfaction scores (mean (SD)= 83.58 (16.174) vs. mean (SD)=101.64 (16.209), p-value < 0.001). There were also significant relationships between general characteristics and the dimensions such as co-workers, promotion, responsibility, nature of work, operating procedure, and communication (p-value< 0.05). Conclusion: The main findings of this study suggest that PHC providers working in PHC centers in the Eastern region were satisfied with their work, especially with supervision and patient care. However, the findings also revealed that there are many areas of the job of PHC providers that require planned reform, such as contingent reward and communication. Furthermore, intention to leave the job was significantly related to job satisfaction score and all the dimensions. The study findings will help policymakers and the Ministry of Health to develop an employee engagement and satisfaction program to track the PHC providers' levels of satisfaction.