AWARENESS REGARDING ROUTINE MEDICAL CHECKUPS IN HEALTHCARE IN KSA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Authors:   Family Medicine Consultant, Alrwise PHC- Jeddah, KSA., A. Baharith Ahmad , Jehad Abousada Hoda ,   Obstetric & Gynecology, KFSH, Jeddah, KSA., Emad Alhassan Shahad ,   Medical Intern, Ibnsina National College, Jeddah, KSA., Mufadi Alrashidi Sultan ,   Laboratory Technician, Prince Sultan Hospital, Madinah, KSA., Nuran Alrashidi Nasser ,   Pharmacy Technician, Prince Sultan Armed Forces Hospital, Madinah, KSA., Mohammed Alharbi Majed ,   Nursing Technician, Prince Sultan Hospital, Madinah, KSA., Fahad Aloufi Muteb ,   Nursing Technician, Prince Sultan Hospital, Madinah, KSA., Sanat Almutairi Abdullah ,   X_Ray Technician, Prince Sultan Hospital, Madinah, KSA., Abdallh Aljohani Jameilh ,   Medical Secretary Technician, Prince Sultan Armed Forces Hospital, Madinah, KSA., Hayman Shalaby Shirin ,   Medical Student, Royal Collage of Surgeon, Ireland -Dublin-Ireland.
Published: December 2024

Background: Routine self-medical checkups are an essential aspect of preventive healthcare, helping individuals identify health issues early. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are key advocates for preventive health but their own participation in routine self-checkups is often overlooked. In Saudi Arabia (KSA), there is limited research on the awareness and practices of HCWs regarding these checkups. This review aims to assess HCWs awareness of routine self-medical checkups and to explore the factors that influence their engagement in these health practices, which is critical for ensuring HCWs set an example for their patients and manage their own health effectively.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted following a structured search strategy. Multiple databases were searched, including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and others, for studies published from January 2000 to present. The inclusion criteria were cross-sectional, descriptive, qualitative, and interventional studies that assessed HCWs awareness and practices related to routine self-medical checkups in KSA. The review also considered studies exploring factors influencing HCWs engagement in these practices. Data extraction was carried out by two independent reviewers, and a standardized form was used to extract relevant information regarding the level of awareness, frequency of self-checkups, barriers, and influencing factors.

Results: The review included studies that assessed the knowledge and practices of HCWs concerning routine self-medical checkups in KSA. The results showed that although HCWs exhibited a moderate level of awareness regarding the importance of self-checkups, actual participation in routine checkups was low. Barriers identified included lack of time, work pressures, and limited institutional support. Interventions aimed at increasing awareness, such as educational programs and campaigns, showed mixed results, highlighting the need for more targeted approaches to improve HCWs participation in preventive health practices.

Conclusion: There is a significant gap between awareness and practice of routine self-medical checkups among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia. To bridge this gap, more effective interventions and institutional support are needed to promote preventive healthcare practices among HCWs. Addressing barriers such as time constraints and enhancing awareness through targeted educational campaigns may help increase the uptake of routine checkups and improve the overall health of HCWs. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of these interventions and to explore other factors influencing HCWs health behaviors.