Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: To achieve universal health coverage consistent with World Health Organization recommendations, monitoring financial protection is vital, even in the context of free medical care. Toward this end, this study investigated out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure on medicines and their determinants among adults in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This analysis was based on cross-sectional data derived from the Family Health Survey conducted by the General Authority for Statistics in 2018.

Health disparities and inequalities in prevalence of diabetes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Over time, global health systems have witnessed significant improvements in the delivery and coverage of healthcare services. Nevertheless, the increasing prominence of non-communicable diseases remains a persistent challenge. Diabetes is one such non-communicable chronic disease that poses a threat with respect to both mortality and morbidity.

Correction: The financial performance of private hospitals in Saudi Arabia: An investigation into the role of internal control and financial accountability.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Knowledge, attitude and practice toward diabetes among the public in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The increasing adoption of sedentary lifestyles and cultural shifts has fostered unhealthy habits and decreased physical activity, consequently exacerbating the prevalence of diabetes. Diabetes is currently one of the top 10 diseases worldwide, contributing significantly to both mortality and morbidity. Since diabetes hinges on self-care, possessing the right knowledge, attitude, and habits related to the disease is paramount.

Assessment of Knowledge of Health Economics among Healthcare Professionals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Addressing the ongoing challenge of rising healthcare spending is crucial for ensuring the health quality of a population. At the core of healthcare systems, health professionals play a vital role in patient care and resource utilization. Despite healthcare cost concerns, health professionals often lack an understanding of health economics for optimal decision making.

Self-Reported Health Inequalities among Older Adults in Saudi Arabia.

Considering the rising life expectancy, the growing population of older adults poses challenges in providing adequate healthcare services. Self-reported health is an important indicator of overall health, predicting morbidity and mortality. This study investigated self-reported health inequalities among older adults in Saudi Arabia and the underlying factors contributing to establishing such inequalities.

Mitigating role of financial inclusion on the perceived difficulties, concerns, and borrowing for medical expenses in Saudi Arabia.

Access to convenient quality healthcare at all times is considered a basic human right; however, many countries are still striving to achieve this goal for their populations. The persistent rise in healthcare expenditure remains a significant obstacle in achieving universal health coverage on a global scale. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of financial inclusion in addressing the financial hardship related to health and medical expense concerns in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Preferences on Policy Options for Ensuring the Financial Sustainability of Healthcare Services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Escalating global health expenditures pose a threat to healthcare financing sustainability, requiring the exploration of alternative financing policies and resource allocation strategies to curb their adverse effects. The aim of this study was to gather insight into the preferences of healthcare workers, including physicians, nurses, allied healthcare professionals, and healthcare administrators, as well as academics in the field of healthcare management and health sciences in Saudi universities, regarding policy options that can secure the financial sustainability of healthcare services in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional research design was employed, and data were collected through an online self-administered survey from August 2022 to December 2022 in Saudi Arabia.

The financial performance of private hospitals in Saudi Arabia: An investigation into the role of internal control and financial accountability.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between internal control, financial accountability, and financial performance in the private healthcare sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) through a questionnaire survey of 78 private hospitals. Drawing on agency theory, the study utilized structural equation modelling with partial least-squares technique to test multiple hypotheses. Results indicate a significant positive relationship between internal control and financial performance, with financial accountability acting as a mediator.

Assessing the inequality in out-of-pocket health expenditure among the chronically and non-chronically ill in Saudi Arabia: a Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis.

Background: Many high-income countries have made significant progress towards achieving universal health coverage. Nevertheless, out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditure continues to undermine the effectiveness of the universal healthcare system. In Saudi Arabia, due to the overburdened free public health services, many people opt for alternative healthcare services, risking high OOP payments.

Socioeconomic Determinants of Willingness to Pay for Emergency Public Dental Services in Saudi Arabia: A Contingent Valuation Approach.

Dental diseases remain major health problems worldwide, leading to pain, discomfort, and even death. In Saudi Arabia, public dental care services (i.e.

Side Effects and Perceptions of COVID-19 Vaccination in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Vaccination against any disease is critical in improving and maintaining public health. However, the overall effectiveness of a vaccine largely depends on the willingness of a population to receive it. The main aim of this study was to assess the side effects and perceptions about COVID-19 vaccines among adults following vaccination in Saudi Arabia.

Determinants of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among the Saudi Adults: Findings From a Nationally Representative Survey.

Background: Saudi Arabia is the fifth largest consumer of calories from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the world. However, there is a knowledge gap to understand factors that could potentially impact SSB consumption in Saudi Arabia. This study is aimed to examine the determinants of SSBs in Saudi Arabia.

Relief After COVID-19 Vaccination: A Doubtful or Evident Outcome?

Since development of the first COVID-19 vaccine, the landscape of public confidence in these vaccines is uncertain. Building confidence is crucial for better preparedness of future pandemics. Following the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy in the country, the aim of this study was to examine whether the Saudi public feels relieved post-vaccination and to identify the factors predicting such relief.

Changes in productivity in healthcare services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Amid the rising demand for healthcare services in Saudi Arabia, there is a need to monitor, evaluate, and improve performance in the delivery of these services. In this regard, the aim of this study was to estimate changes in total factor productivity (TFP) in healthcare services across the health system administrative regions in Saudi Arabia from 2006 to 2018. The contributions of changes in efficiency and technology to the observed changes in TFP were further evaluated.

Willingness to Receive COVID-19 Vaccination among Older Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Community-Based Survey.

Identifying the factors driving vaccine hesitancy can improve vaccine attitudes and motivate individuals to have the recommended vaccinations. However, failure to address the issue directly, or worse, ignoring it, could deepen such concerns, resulting in lower vaccination rates, leading to elevated rates of illness and vaccine-preventable deaths among older adults. The aim of this study was to explore the rate of acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among older adults in Saudi Arabia, along with the associated predicting factors and reasons for hesitancy.

Inequalities in Knowledge About COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

As the world is still being ravaged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the first line of prevention lies in understanding the causative and preventive factors of the disease. However, given varied socioeconomic circumstances, there may be some inequality in the level of proper knowledge of COVID-19. Despite a proliferation of studies on COVID-19, the extent and prevalence of inequalities in knowledge about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia are not known.

Economic Analysis of Inequality in Preventive Health Check-Ups Uptake in Saudi Arabia.

Undertaking preventive health check-ups has proven to be an important strategy in the fight against several diseases. However, various socioeconomic circumstances may hinder participating in such an important health exercise for many people. With the growth in the burden of non-communicable diseases in Saudi Arabia, it is thus essential that people take an active role in undertaking preventive health check-ups.

Decomposition of inequalities in out-of-pocket health expenditure burden in Saudi Arabia.

Out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditure remains a serious welfare problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate and decompose factors that are associated with inequalities in relative OOP health expenditure, estimated as the percentage of income spent on healthcare, in Saudi Arabia. Data from 10,785 respondents were obtained from a national cross-sectional survey conducted in Saudi Arabia as a part of the 2018 Family Health Survey.

Socioeconomic determinants and inequalities in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly becoming a challenge worldwide, causing high mortality and morbidity. Saudi Arabia has one of the highest rates of NCDs globally and the highest in the Arabian Gulf region. Epidemiological data indicate that NCDs are responsible for 70 % of all deaths in Saudi Arabia.

Women's empowerment and fertility decision-making in 53 low and middle resource countries: a pooled analysis of demographic and health surveys.

Objective: Women's empowerment and its association with fertility preference are vital for central-level promotional health policy strategies. This study examines the association between women's empowerment and fertility decision-making in low and middle resource countries (LMRCs).

Design: This cross-sectional study uses the Demographic and Health Survey database.

The Influence of COVID-19 Information Sources on the Attitudes and Practices Toward COVID-19 Among the General Public of Saudi Arabia: Cross-sectional Online Survey Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in panic among the general public, leading many people to seek out information related to COVID-19 through various sources, including social media and traditional media. Identifying public preferences for obtaining such information may help health authorities to effectively plan successful health preventive and educational intervention strategies.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the types of sources used for obtaining COVID-19 information on the attitudes and practices of the general public in Saudi Arabia during the pandemic, and to identify the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with the use of different sources of information.

Socioeconomic Determinants of Smoking in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Tobacco consumption, or smoking, is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). In order to reduce the consumption of tobacco products, it is necessary to understand the factors that drive it. However, little is known about the socioeconomic determinants of tobacco smoking in the KSA.

Trends in the prevalence of adult overweight and obesity in Australia, and its association with geographic remoteness.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has been increasing globally and has become a significant public health concern in Australia in the two past decades. This study explores the most recent national prevalence and trends of adult overweight and obesity in Australia. It will also investigate geographic remoteness as a potential risk factor for an individual being overweight or obese in adulthood.

Health Insurance and Out-Of-Pocket Expenditure on Health and Medicine: Heterogeneities along Income.

Achieving universal health coverage is an important objective enshrined in the 2015 global Sustainable Development Goals. However, the rising cost of healthcare remains an obstacle to the attainment of the universal health coverage. Health insurance is considered an option to reduce out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure on health and medicine.