Assessment of Administrative Services in State Mental Health Hospitals Among Muslim Patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) leads mental health research in the Arabic world, addressing challenges for Muslim patients seeking treatment at hospitals. This study aims to evaluate the quality of administrative services at public mental health hospitals, as perceived by Muslim recipients in the KSA. This descriptive quantitative study used a self-reported questionnaire to collect data from 200 public mental health service recipients in the KSA from 4 January 2022 to 4 March 2022. More than 95% of participants were optimistic about the entry process procedures. Approximately 88% of the participants accepted the policies for booking an appointment with a doctor. The study’s findings highlight the need to streamline and improve the communication of administrative procedures to provide recipients with optimal clarity and convenience. By addressing the moderately reported issues with policy transparency related to visit cancellations, referrals, and treatment completion, patient satisfaction and compliance could be improved, leading to a more efficient and patient-centred healthcare experience. These findings underscore the importance of streamlining administrative procedures to enhance clarity and convenience for Muslim patients, ultimately contributing to a more patient-centred healthcare experience in mental health hospitals in the KSA.

Keywords: Administration; hospital; mental healthcare; policy; Saudi Arabia

ABSTRAK

Kerajaan Arab Saudi (KSA) kini menjadi di antara negara yang terkehadapan dalam perkhidmatan kesihatan mental. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menilai perkhidmatan kesihatan mental di hospital kesihatan mental awam dari segi perspektif penerima perkhidmatan di hospital kesihatan mental di KSA yang beragama Islam. Kajian kuantitatif ini menggunakan soalan soal-selidik yang dilengkapkan oleh 200 penerima perkhidmatan kesihatan mental awam di KSA di antara 4 Januari 2022 dan 4 Mac 2022. Lebih daripada 95% peserta optimis mengenai prosedur proses pendaftaran dan penerimaan pesakit. Kira-kira 88% daripada responden berpuas hati dengan polisi bagi membuat temujanji dengan doktor. Hasil dapatan kajian ini diharapkan dapat meningkatkan tahap kualiti komunikasi dan prosedur pentadbiran untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan kesihatan mental yang lebih optimal. Penyelesaian isu-isu pentadbiran terutamanya yang berkaitan dengan prosedur pembatalan temujanji, proses rujukan, dan penamatan rawatan dapat meningkatkan kepuasan pesakit yang pada akhirnya menyumbang kepada pengalaman penjagaan kesihatan mental yang lebih komprehsif. Penemuan ini menekankan kepentingan untuk memnambahbaik prosedur pentadbiran bagi meningkatkan kemudahan pesakit-pesakit Muslim, yang akhirnya menyumbang kepada pengalaman penjagaan kesihatan yang lebih berpusatkan pesakit di hospital-hospital kesihatan mental di Arab Saudi.

Kata kunci: Pentadbiran; hospital; kesihatan mental; polisi; Arab Saudi