Islamic values, cultural customs and influences upon delivery of acute and critical care nursing services to patients admitted to Saudi Arabian hospitals
Creators: name: Gashash, Bandar Abdullah
Publisher: name: RMIT University
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 420501
subject: Acute care
classificationCode: 420599
subject: Nursing not elsewhere classified

description: Aims: This study had two aims: Firstly it aimed to examine the Islamic values and cultural customs that influence the delivery of acute nursing and critical care services to patients admitted to Saudi Arabian hospital units. Secondly, the study evaluated Saudi and non-Saudi (expatriate) nurse’s adaptation of care to Islamic religious beliefs and Saudi customary values in their daily nursing care service delivery process.<br><br>Background: Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country located in the Arab peninsula where the Islamic religion was established and founded. The county has a shortage of Saudi national nurses. The Saudi government recruits many expatriate nurses to cover this shortage. Expatriate nurses may have different religious beliefs and cultural values but are required to work in Saudi Arabia and provide good quality competent care to Saudi Arabian patients. The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia database shows 51.28% of nursing professionals working in MOH health care organisation are expatriates . These statistics explain the multi cultural make up of the health care organisations in Saudi Arabia. In some hospitals in Saudi Arabia there are nurses engaged in direct patient health care delivery originating from 30 to 50 different countries . This large expatriate nursing workforce is required to understand the patients Islamic values and cultural traditions to be able to respect the patient’s beliefs and also deliver care that is culturally sensitive.<br><br>Methodology: This was a two phase mixed methods research design study. Phase one utilised a survey design conducted to provide data to provide a snap shot of the effects of Islamic values, cultural customs and influences upon the delivery of acute and critical care nursing services to patients admitted to Southern regional Saudi Arabian hospitals. Phase two of the study utilised face to face individual interviews with volunteers from the first phase. A research instrument was developed specifically for this study utilising constructs arising from Leninger’s Sunrise Model as well as Purnell’s research into Arabic culture.<br><br>Outcomes: Key outcomes from the study include how education preparation and clinical experience in an Islamic health service impacts on nursing competence and communication skills of nurses working in Saudi Arabia. Expatriate nurse’s required effective orientation to Saudi culture and the use of technology in Saudi health care services. The study identifies nurses perceptions and experiences working with Islamic patients who also hold traditional values. The process of adapting to work as a nurse in a regional Islamic health service when coming from another culture is explored. The study results show the facilitating factors that assist nurses to deliver care to Saudi Arabian Muslim patients as well as the barriers facing nursing care delivery. This mixed methods study is unique as few studies with a transcultural focus have been conducted with this population. As such it is a unique and original contribution to nursing knowledge in transcultural care within Arabic populations.<br><br>Implication: Key implications arising from this research are: There is a need to develop effective educational and training programs for expatriate nurses in Saudi Arabia to improve the quality of nursing care. Policy and regulations of hospitals should be developed to guide procedures that nurses follow to assist patient’s religious and cultural requirements. Family members should be engaged in health care process which may improve the quality of health care by enhancing the communication between patients and nurses. Nurses need to develop the ability to incorporate patient’s religious values and cultural customs when delivering care.