Practice of general pediatrics in Saudi Arabia: current status, challenges, and opportunities
Abstract Background In Saudi Arabia, general pediatrics serves children until they are 14 years old. It has contributed to improving the health of Saudi children. Method This study adopted a qualitative method and recruited pediatric physicians to investigate status, successes, challenges, and oppor...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03648-w |
| _version_ | 1811335373503070208 |
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| author | Yossef S. Alnasser Alhanouf F. Alabdali Rahaf I. Alshabri Sawsan M. Albatati |
| author_facet | Yossef S. Alnasser Alhanouf F. Alabdali Rahaf I. Alshabri Sawsan M. Albatati |
| author_sort | Yossef S. Alnasser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In Saudi Arabia, general pediatrics serves children until they are 14 years old. It has contributed to improving the health of Saudi children. Method This study adopted a qualitative method and recruited pediatric physicians to investigate status, successes, challenges, and opportunities. Later, data were analyzed using thematic analysis and hermeneutic phenomenology. Results This study attracted 13 pediatric physicians for interviews. All participants appreciated the role of general pediatricians, but the trainees had a negative attitude regarding the general pediatrics specialty. They all agreed on providing primary care for all children and recommended that their first visit should occur earlier. Shortage of pediatricians, lack of community pediatricians, busy clinics, limited Arabic resources, and poor communication skills are significant barriers to children receiving adequate care. The majority of pediatricians favor extending the pediatric age to 18 years old. One pediatrician stated, “Youths between ages 14–18 years are lost, adults and we refuse to care for them…” Additionally, pediatricians have concerns about managing developmental delays and behavioral issues. They believe the current pediatric residency provides many opportunities for a brighter future. Conclusion General pediatrics is well established in Saudi Arabia. To continue thriving, we need to address some challenges that pediatricians face and attract more residency graduates. The current pediatric residency programs can provide opportunities to address deficit areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:23:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-64820c4c16894381a0a430768d2c7498 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:23:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-64820c4c16894381a0a430768d2c74982022-12-22T02:37:54ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312022-10-012211610.1186/s12887-022-03648-wPractice of general pediatrics in Saudi Arabia: current status, challenges, and opportunitiesYossef S. Alnasser0Alhanouf F. Alabdali1Rahaf I. Alshabri2Sawsan M. Albatati3Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical CityChildren’s Hospital, King Fahad Medical CityKing Saud Medical SchoolChildren’s Hospital, King Fahad Medical CityAbstract Background In Saudi Arabia, general pediatrics serves children until they are 14 years old. It has contributed to improving the health of Saudi children. Method This study adopted a qualitative method and recruited pediatric physicians to investigate status, successes, challenges, and opportunities. Later, data were analyzed using thematic analysis and hermeneutic phenomenology. Results This study attracted 13 pediatric physicians for interviews. All participants appreciated the role of general pediatricians, but the trainees had a negative attitude regarding the general pediatrics specialty. They all agreed on providing primary care for all children and recommended that their first visit should occur earlier. Shortage of pediatricians, lack of community pediatricians, busy clinics, limited Arabic resources, and poor communication skills are significant barriers to children receiving adequate care. The majority of pediatricians favor extending the pediatric age to 18 years old. One pediatrician stated, “Youths between ages 14–18 years are lost, adults and we refuse to care for them…” Additionally, pediatricians have concerns about managing developmental delays and behavioral issues. They believe the current pediatric residency provides many opportunities for a brighter future. Conclusion General pediatrics is well established in Saudi Arabia. To continue thriving, we need to address some challenges that pediatricians face and attract more residency graduates. The current pediatric residency programs can provide opportunities to address deficit areas.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03648-wSaudi ArabiaGeneral PediatricsPrimary careCommunity PediatriciansPediatric Age |
| spellingShingle | Yossef S. Alnasser Alhanouf F. Alabdali Rahaf I. Alshabri Sawsan M. Albatati Practice of general pediatrics in Saudi Arabia: current status, challenges, and opportunities BMC Pediatrics Saudi Arabia General Pediatrics Primary care Community Pediatricians Pediatric Age |
| title | Practice of general pediatrics in Saudi Arabia: current status, challenges, and opportunities |
| title_full | Practice of general pediatrics in Saudi Arabia: current status, challenges, and opportunities |
| title_fullStr | Practice of general pediatrics in Saudi Arabia: current status, challenges, and opportunities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Practice of general pediatrics in Saudi Arabia: current status, challenges, and opportunities |
| title_short | Practice of general pediatrics in Saudi Arabia: current status, challenges, and opportunities |
| title_sort | practice of general pediatrics in saudi arabia current status challenges and opportunities |
| topic | Saudi Arabia General Pediatrics Primary care Community Pediatricians Pediatric Age |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03648-w |
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