Abstract
Background:
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most prevalent complications of
pregnancy and an important risk factor for type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (McIntyre and Moses, 2020). The prevalence of GDM in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is substantially higher than the global average and has increased. Despite this, there is limited information on the quality of care for GDM in KSA, in particular women’s experiences of services.
Aims: To explore the quality of GDM healthcare services in KSA and suggest evidence-based recommendations for improvement.
Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with patients with GDM (16 from an urban setting and 11 from a rural setting).
Findings: A thematic analysis of the qualitative interviews identified four themes relating to barriers for GDM patients emerged: access to care factors, communication factors, health provider factors and patient factors. Not every participant experienced problems with each factor.
Conclusion: This study identified potential ways to improve the quality of GDM healthcare services in Saudi Arabia. Recommendations are suggested to improve the quality of GDM healthcare, ranging from new training programs to greater investment in facility scheduling systems.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most prevalent complications of
pregnancy and an important risk factor for type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (McIntyre and Moses, 2020). The prevalence of GDM in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is substantially higher than the global average and has increased. Despite this, there is limited information on the quality of care for GDM in KSA, in particular women’s experiences of services.
Aims: To explore the quality of GDM healthcare services in KSA and suggest evidence-based recommendations for improvement.
Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with patients with GDM (16 from an urban setting and 11 from a rural setting).
Findings: A thematic analysis of the qualitative interviews identified four themes relating to barriers for GDM patients emerged: access to care factors, communication factors, health provider factors and patient factors. Not every participant experienced problems with each factor.
Conclusion: This study identified potential ways to improve the quality of GDM healthcare services in Saudi Arabia. Recommendations are suggested to improve the quality of GDM healthcare, ranging from new training programs to greater investment in facility scheduling systems.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 1-19 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Publication status | Published - 22 Nov 2023 |
| Event | 6th Conference on Economics, Business and Management Studies - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Duration: 20 Nov 2023 → 22 Nov 2023 |
Conference
| Conference | 6th Conference on Economics, Business and Management Studies |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Saudi Arabia |
| City | Jeddah |
| Period | 20/11/23 → 22/11/23 |
Keywords
- patient-centred, patient experience, gestational diabetes, healthcare, qualitative, Saudi Arabia