Understanding the Impact of Digital Health Strategies During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia
Hala Alhodaib, Turki M Alanzi Department of Health Information Management and Technology, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, 31441, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Turki M AlanziDepartment of Health Information Management and Technology, College of Public Health, I...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Risk Management and Healthcare Policy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/understanding-the-impact-of-digital-health-strategies-during-the-covid-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RMHP |
| _version_ | 1818929678254080000 |
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| author | Alhodaib H Alanzi TM |
| author_facet | Alhodaib H Alanzi TM |
| author_sort | Alhodaib H |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hala Alhodaib, Turki M Alanzi Department of Health Information Management and Technology, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, 31441, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Turki M AlanziDepartment of Health Information Management and Technology, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, King Faisal Road, Dammam, 31441, Saudi ArabiaTel/Fax +966 133331211Email talanzi@iau.edu.saBackground: The impact of COVID-19 has been analyzed from various aspects on the health care services management, accessibility and delivery of health care services. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in health care services, which led to the increase in adoption of digital health technologies, mostly arising out of need and necessity.Objective: Focusing on the prevailing situations (increasing reliance on digital health services), this study investigates the impact of digital health technologies from the perspectives of policymakers and citizens.Methods: A mixed-methods approach was adopted. Twenty-seven semi-structured online interviews were conducted with experts and policymakers for assessing the impact from policymakers’ perspectives. An online survey questionnaire instrument was used to collect the responses from 1698 Saudi Arabian citizens in relation to the various aspects of digital health applications.Results: Health care expenditures increased during the COVID-19 outbreak, resulting in launch of various digital health applications. While policymakers defended their stand in improving health care services and accessibility; citizens reflected inability to book medicines/personal medical equipment online (Mean=2.4) and suffered a lack of personalized care (Mean=2.9) through digital health applications. Moreover, disparities exist between the population groups with respect to the accessibility, utilization, and perceptions of digital health technologies.Conclusion: Policymakers have to consider and address these differences in formulating digital health policies and implementing them.Keywords: impact, digital health, strategies, COVID-19, Saudi Arabia |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:48:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-84cb514e2a744d07a4b278dd36a12394 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1594 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:48:37Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Risk Management and Healthcare Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-84cb514e2a744d07a4b278dd36a123942022-12-21T19:54:33ZengDove Medical PressRisk Management and Healthcare Policy1179-15942021-11-01Volume 144581459470488Understanding the Impact of Digital Health Strategies During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi ArabiaAlhodaib HAlanzi TMHala Alhodaib, Turki M Alanzi Department of Health Information Management and Technology, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, 31441, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Turki M AlanziDepartment of Health Information Management and Technology, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, King Faisal Road, Dammam, 31441, Saudi ArabiaTel/Fax +966 133331211Email talanzi@iau.edu.saBackground: The impact of COVID-19 has been analyzed from various aspects on the health care services management, accessibility and delivery of health care services. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in health care services, which led to the increase in adoption of digital health technologies, mostly arising out of need and necessity.Objective: Focusing on the prevailing situations (increasing reliance on digital health services), this study investigates the impact of digital health technologies from the perspectives of policymakers and citizens.Methods: A mixed-methods approach was adopted. Twenty-seven semi-structured online interviews were conducted with experts and policymakers for assessing the impact from policymakers’ perspectives. An online survey questionnaire instrument was used to collect the responses from 1698 Saudi Arabian citizens in relation to the various aspects of digital health applications.Results: Health care expenditures increased during the COVID-19 outbreak, resulting in launch of various digital health applications. While policymakers defended their stand in improving health care services and accessibility; citizens reflected inability to book medicines/personal medical equipment online (Mean=2.4) and suffered a lack of personalized care (Mean=2.9) through digital health applications. Moreover, disparities exist between the population groups with respect to the accessibility, utilization, and perceptions of digital health technologies.Conclusion: Policymakers have to consider and address these differences in formulating digital health policies and implementing them.Keywords: impact, digital health, strategies, COVID-19, Saudi Arabiahttps://www.dovepress.com/understanding-the-impact-of-digital-health-strategies-during-the-covid-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RMHPimpactdigital healthstrategiescovid-19saudi arabia |
| spellingShingle | Alhodaib H Alanzi TM Understanding the Impact of Digital Health Strategies During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia Risk Management and Healthcare Policy impact digital health strategies covid-19 saudi arabia |
| title | Understanding the Impact of Digital Health Strategies During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Understanding the Impact of Digital Health Strategies During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the Impact of Digital Health Strategies During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the Impact of Digital Health Strategies During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Understanding the Impact of Digital Health Strategies During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | understanding the impact of digital health strategies during the covid 19 outbreak in saudi arabia |
| topic | impact digital health strategies covid-19 saudi arabia |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/understanding-the-impact-of-digital-health-strategies-during-the-covid-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RMHP |
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