Culturally acceptable health care services for saudi's elderly population: The decision-maker's perception

Culturally acceptable health care services for saudi's elderly population: The decision-maker's perception

Sulaiman A. Al-Shammari, Ferial M. Felemban, Jamal S. Jarallah, El-Shabrawy Ali, Suleiman A. Al-Bilali and Jaafer M. Hamad

DOI: 10.1002/hpm.4740100206

The International Journal of Health Planning and Management Volume 10, Issue 2, pages 129–138, April/June 1995

Keywords:Saudi Arabia;Elderly;Decision Makers

Abstract

This article reports on a study carried out in 1993 to elicit the opinions of decision makers (medical and non-medical) as to the types of facilities, locations and culturally acceptable levels of health care appropriate for the elderly in Saudi Arabia. In addition, the study sought to find out the procedures and likely constraints in the development of future health care services for the elderly.

An opinion survey was carried out on a randomly selected sample of decision makers, drawn from: hospitals of 100-bed capacity or more; and, from directorates of education, agriculture, police, municipalities, commerce, transport and media, in each of the regions of Saudi Arabia. A predesigned Arabic questionnaire was completed by the respondents during February-April, 1993.

Of the 244 respondents, the most important categories of elderly to be cared for were considered to be those with handicaps, the chronically ill, and those without family support. The non-medical decision makers gave higher scores to these alternatives than did the medical decision makers (P<0.05). Use of the family home for elderly health care was rated as the most appropriate, followed by medical rehabilitation centres, and only then by hospitals. Non-medical respondents gave more emphasis on rehabilitation centres (P<0.02). Medical respondents thought that primary care doctors (87.2%), physiotherapists (87.2%) and general nurses (78.2%) can adequately fulfil the needs of most elderly patients. In contrast, non-medical respondents demanded the presence of specialist doctors (72.3%), specialist nurses (78.9%), laboratory and X-ray facilities to run such services (P<0.05).

Medical decision makers were also more concerned than the non-medical respondents that the availability of such medical facilities might encourage some people to neglect their elderly parents (P<0.04). Equally, medical respondents were seemingly more aware of the high cost of hospital beds than their non-medical counterparts (P<0.0001).

The conclusion to be drawn is that there is a need to provide both acceptable and suitable health care facilities tailored to the needs of the elderly in Saudi Arabia. Any proposed setting should be both cost-effective and avoid socially adverse outcomes. Above all, the community should be encouraged to participate positively in the development, running and periodic evaluation of such facilities.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hpm.4740100206/abstract