Measurement of healthcare quality : a mixed-methods comparative study of accredited and non-accredited hospitals in Saudi Arabia

Alasmari, A

Abstract

Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries in the middle east to adopt an accreditation programme in its healthcare sector in forming the Central Board of Accreditation for Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) in 2005. Even though accreditation has implied positive effects on quality of healthcare, as addressed in the literature, the literature search revealed a dearth of published studies concerned with the relationship between accreditation and improved quality of healthcare in Saudi Arabia.


The main aim of this research was to examine any potential differences in the quality of care provided by accredited and non-accredited Ministry of Health hospitals in Saudi Arabia.


A mixed-method approach was adopted with the intention of gathering both quantitative and qualitative data to answer the research objectives. Quantitative data was collected through extraction from the reports on quality of care indicators provided by the participating Ministry of Health hospitals. Qualitative data incorporated social and behavioural thinking regarding the quality of accredited and non-accredited hospitals. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews with senior hospital management of a selection of Ministry of Health hospitals.


A total of 88 MoH hospitals provided data, of which 46 were accredited and 42 were non-accredited. When quality of care indicators were compared between accredited and non-accredited hospitals, a significant difference was found in 12 separate quality of care indicators. The significant difference was that, the indicators in the accredited hospitals had a higher score, which showed that the quality of care in non-accredited hospitals was better.


Three themes emerged from the interview data: knowledge, practice, and attitude, with findings showing a similarity of perspective towards quality from both accredited and non-accredited hospital staff. Non-accredited hospital staff had a different attitude towards quality than accredited hospital staff.


Conclusion: This study clearly demonstrated the superiority of non-accredited hospitals in the overall results of the indicators under study. Moreover, the behaviour and attitude of the employee demonstrate that some of the hospitals members are not able to strike a balance between their basic duties as healthcare practitioners and their participation in quality initiatives.

Citation

Alasmari, A. (in press). Measurement of healthcare quality : a mixed-methods comparative study of accredited and non-accredited hospitals in Saudi Arabia. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Acceptance Date: Mar 29, 2019
• Deposit Date: Apr 5, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2019