The Role of Digital Technology in Responding to COVID-19 Pandemic: Saudi Arabia's Experience

Scrutinizing the COVID-19 vaccine safety debate

The controversy surrounding the safety of coronavirus disease-19 vaccinations is part of a larger historical backdrop of ongoing discussions regarding vaccine safety that have spanned several decades. The historical disputes around measles, mumps, rubella, and influenza highlight the recurring pattern in which public doubt is fueled by false information and personal stories. A 2024 multinational study in the journal Vaccine presented preexisting safety indicators for myocarditis, pericarditis, Guillain - Barré syndrome, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. The study had a notably large sample size and contributed to the ongoing discussion of vaccine safety. Examining this research clarifies the subtle distinctions between demonstrating causality and simple association, emphasizing the importance of thorough scientific investigation and open communication. The following recommendations should be prioritized to tackle vaccine hesitancy and ensure that politicians, healthcare practitioners, and public health officials make informed decisions. Vaccine safety data should be openly and readily provided to the public, particularly regarding potential hazards and advantages. Establishing post-marketing surveillance systems to monitor and examine adverse effects linked to vaccinations helps strengthen public confidence in the safety monitoring process and officials' dedication to addressing safety concerns with thoroughness.

Assessing the impact of tech-driven solutions to manage COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: insights from health information technology professionals

Introduction

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the provision of healthcare services, forcing health systems, governments, and other public health stakeholders to embark on alternative means to deliver care.

Method

This scenario has fueled the adoption of digital health technologies in the healthcare industry to enhance the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the effect of using health information technologies (HITs) in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia from the health information technology professionals' perspectives. In addition, the study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of using HITs interventions to manage COVID-19, assess HITs information exchange capability and quality, and measure practitioners' satisfaction with HITs.

Results

The present study used a primary analysis and cross-sectional design. Data were collected using survey questionnaires and analyzed. A total of 371 participants (n = 371) responded to the questionnaire that was administered online, in March 2022. The study found that HITs significantly influenced the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in various areas, including consulting, screening, and monitoring. However, technical issues, among other challenges, hindered the realization of the desired outcomes.

Discussion

In addition, the study found HITs helpful in managing COVID-19, adding that these technologies improved providers' satisfaction concerning access to and value of information. The study found the need to address the challenges associated with HITs that prevent the effective deployment of HITs to manage COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Respiratory viral infections during Hajj seasons

Respiratory viral infections pose a public health concern during mass gathering (MG) events. Sustainable and continuous surveillance of respiratory viruses remains a priority to early identify and prevent potential outbreaks. This article reviews recent literature addressed the prevalence and diversity of circulating respiratory viruses during Hajj pilgrimage, one of the largest planned religious MG events held annually in Saudi Arabia. The variation between studies with respect to study design, sample size, time of sample collection (pre-, during, and pos-Hajj), type of participants (e.g., symptomatic vs. a symptomatic pilgrims), and laboratory procedure was highlighted. The majority of these studies were conducted on the 2019 Hajj season or earlier, prior to the emergence of COVID-19 which had significant impact on the past three Hajj seasons (2020, 2021, and 2022). A summary about key aspects related to organization of Hajj during COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of exceptional infection control strategies is provided.

Assessing the Awareness and Perception of Telemedicine Among the General Population in the Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia

Telemedicine plays an important role in healthcare by improving the quality of the healthcare system. However, various challenges associated with the effective implementation of telemedicine have been reported. This study aimed to explore the awareness and utilization of telemedicine services among the general population in the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia and the factors affecting it. Using a cross-sectional design for the study, the quantitative approach was employed through a questionnaire-based survey. Data from 359 participants from the Al-Baha general population were collected, including both males and females over the age of 18. The analysis of the collected data shows a low level of familiarity within the general population; indeed, 54.9% (197) of participants have experienced using telemedicine services. Moreover, the study reveals that the major concerns influencing the use of telemedicine services are limited availability, privacy and security, and quality of care. Almost half of the participants have used telemedicine, and they expressed concerns related to quality of care, privacy and security, limited availability, and technical difficulties. However, telemedicine was positively perceived among the participants. There is a need to raise public awareness about the importance and effectiveness of telemedicine.

Stress during Home Confinement Is Associated with Eating Misalignment among Adults during COVID-19 Lockdown

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic forced Saudi Arabia to implement several measures including mandatory home confinement, banning entry to many cities, and suspending religious activities. Studies have reported inconsistent findings of the effect of home confinement on lifestyle factors. This study aims to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 during home confinement and explore its association with dietary habits and weight change.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among Saudi adults using an online survey between May and June 2020. Data on dietary habits, sleep quality, and stress were collected.

RESULTS

A total of n = 503 participants responded. Of 254 analyzed, 87% were females, 49% were overweight/obese (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2), and 79% were under lockdown for >40 days. In multiple linear regression, higher stress scores during confinement were associated with higher stress scores before confinement and poorer sleep quality. In multiple logistic regression, those who did not eat at the same time had higher stress scores compared to those who always ate at the same time, whereas consuming ≥three meals was associated with lower stress scores than consuming one-two meals. The odds of gaining weight during confinement were higher among married adults, those with lower sleep quality, and consuming ≥three meals.

CONCLUSIONS

Stress during home confinement was associated with eating misalignment and the number of meals consumed. Although this study was limited by its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, it provides valuable insights into the dietary habits and weight-gain associated factors that need to be further explored and addressed in any future restrictions for improved well-being.

Assessment of Risk Perception of COVID-19 Post Vaccination amongst the General Population of Riyadh Region

COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Vaccination against the virus was first approved in Saudi Arabia in December 2020. Vaccinated individuals are still at risk of getting infected with the virus and can transmit the disease. Therefore, the perception of vaccinated individuals regarding the disease can help limit the spread of the virus.

OBJECTIVES

To measure the risk perception of COVID-19 following vaccination and factors that have an effect on risk perception; to identify the health protective behaviours of the vaccinated individuals.

METHODOLOGY

This is a quantitative analytical cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study. The target population includes individuals aged 18 and above who live in the Riyadh region and have been vaccinated, during the period of June 2021 to December 2021.

RESULTS

The perception of 30.2% of participants did not change after vaccination, with many participants continuing to "always" take precautions even after vaccination. Numerous factors, such as age, gender, marital status, occupational status, employment status, and total household income, have shown significant effects towards risk perception.

CONCLUSION

Many vaccinated individuals have continued to take precautionary steps and their risk perception has not changed.

Acceptability and Effectiveness of COVID-19 Contact Tracing Applications: A Case Study in Saudi Arabia of the Tawakkalna Application

Background Contact tracing applications were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the spread of the infection in several countries. In Saudi Arabia, the Tawakkalna application was developed. The Tawakkalna application is a mobile health solution aimed to track infection cases, save lives, and reduce the burden on health facilities. This study aims to explore the public's attitude to and acceptance levels of the Tawakkalna application and to evaluate its effectiveness regarding privacy and security. The main objective of this study is to investigate the user acceptability of contact tracing applications and explore the safety and privacy effectiveness of the COVID-19 contact tracing application, the Tawakkalna application. In addition, the study analyzes factors associated with acceptance levels and compares the results obtained to similar studies in other countries using similar applications. Methodology This study used a valid and reliable online survey that was used in similar studies conducted in other countries to assess the acceptability of the application. The survey was conducted from September to November 2021, and the final dataset included 205 participants. To investigate the privacy and security performance of the Tawakkalna application, we followed the investigation method used by similar research that investigated 28 contact tracing applications across Europe. Results Out of the 205 participants, 84.87% were in favor of the opt-in voluntary installation of the Tawakkalna application, and 49.75% of the participants were in favor of the opt-out automatic installation. Individuals' trust in the government had a huge impact on acceptance, with 60.98% of the participants supporting the application because they believed that the Tawakkalna application would help them stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 49% of the participants supporting the application also agreed to the de-identification of their collected data and providing it for research. The Tawakkalna application ranked at the top compared to other contact tracing applications regarding privacy and security. Conclusions The Tawakkalna application developed by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is considered the biggest public health crisis in recent times. The Saudi Arabian government gained the population's acceptance through effective endorsement and the spread of educational content through media channels. By complying with privacy policies, the Tawakkalna application is an effective tool to combat public health infectious diseases.

Assessment of the Prevalence and Incidence of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia

The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) is reported to have started in Wuhan City, Hebei Province, China. It has spread rapidly all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, having a severe health emergency. This new virus was named as the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), and now severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) based on previous practice and phylogenetic and taxonomic investigations. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the family of Coronaviridae, Betacoronavirus, Sarbecovirus subgenus, genome β. Throughout the COVID 19 pandemic, several strains of SARS-CoV-2 have been recognized around the world. The SARS-CoV-2 variants have caused significant morbidity and mortality worldwide and in Saudi Arabia as well. The rate at which COVID-19 spread across borders and affected countries has highlighted the significance of health care systems to nations and global operations. This review focuses on the origin, epidemiology, pathophysiology, transmission, and the impact of this disease, while highlighting the knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Hajj 2021: Role of mitigation measures for health security

PURPOSE

After the impressive results of the 2020 Hajj management, Saudi authorities decided to expand the quota to 60,000 pilgrims in 2021, which resulted in a convenient and successful experience.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective pre and post-study study conducted on all pilgrims attending the 2021 Hajj using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test surveillance with paired-swab samples (pre-Hajj and post-Hajj) to evaluate the risk potential of COVID-19 among Hajj pilgrims, the effectiveness of preventive measures and the potential effect of the Hajj ritual as a huge mass gathering on the epidemiological situation of the Saudi Arabian population.

RESULT

Forty-one cases had positive COVID-19 infections out of a total of 58,428 pilgrims who attended the 2021 Hajj season, as detected by nonmandatory pre- and post-Hajj PCR. Notably, the 2021 Hajj season achieved a decreasing leg of the COVID-19 pandemic curve. The adjusted incidence rate in KSA from July 11th to August 7th ranged from 19 to 24 cases per 100,000 population. In contrast, the incidence rate for the same duration in Hajj ranged from 3 to 7 cases per 100,000 pilgrims.

CONCLUSION

The Saudi mitigation plan ensured the safety of pilgrims and healthcare workers for Hajj, successfully limited the risk of COVID-19 transmission inside and contributed to global health security. The success story of Hajj in 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic represents a successful model for planning, achieving and managing future mass gatherings by integrating technology with global and national health policies and public health measures.

Applications of Medical Digital Technologies for Noncommunicable Diseases for Follow-Up during the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

Noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are multifaceted, and the health implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are far-reaching, especially for NCDs. Physical distancing and quarantine can lead to the poor management of NCDs because the visual tracking of them has been replaced with medical digital technology, that is, smartphone apps. This study aimed to explore medical digital technology applications for NCDs for follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

The participants in this study were 400 adult patients with NCDs; they were selected by systematic random sampling. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. The study was conducted in the outpatient department of Yanbu General Hospital and primary-care health centers in Yanbu Al-Baher, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The tools used in this study were a structured questionnaire to collect the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients and their health history, an NCD questionnaire to assess follow-up of the patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a medical digital technologies questionnaire to explore the medical digital technology applications.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 47.32 ± 14.362 years, and 62.8% of them were female and 372 were male. Of the patients, 69.2% and 57.5% had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and hypertension, respectively; 52.4% were followed up monthly, and 29.75% used medical digital technology applications such as Tabeby Online to monitor their health. Furthermore, 71.75% and 75.5% of the patients used the Sehhaty and Tawakkalna medical digital applications, respectively. Overall, 38.7% of the patients were satisfied with using medical digital technology applications used for follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

The study concluded that the services that use networks, smartphones, and medical digital technology applications on the Saudi Ministry of Health website and mobile applications to improve the quality of the health-care system, and that provide health services for noncommunicable or communicable diseases, are not effective. This is because the patients lack awareness of these services, with most of the chronic patients being elderly with lower levels of education and computer literacy.

Escalating the 2022 Hajj during the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic

The escalation of the number of pilgrims for the 2022 Hajj season comes as KSA had succeeded in reaching an excellent percentage in vaccine coverage and subsequently eased the restrictions. KSA adopted an extensive surveillance, implemented risk mitigation, and maximized COVID-19 vaccines coverage.

Effectiveness of containment strategies in preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission

BACKGROUND

Despite substantial resources deployed to curb SARS-CoV-2 transmission, controlling the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major challenge. New variants of the virus are frequently emerging leading to new waves of infection and re-introduction of control measures. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of containment strategies implemented in the early phase of the pandemic.

METHODS

Real-world data for COVID-19 cases was retrieved for the period Jan 1 to May 1, 2020 from a number of different sources, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Facebook, Epidemic Forecasting and Google Mobility Reports. We analyzed data for 18 countries/regions that deployed containment strategies such as travel restrictions, lockdowns, stay-at-home requests, school/public events closure, social distancing, and exposure history information management (digital contact tracing, DCT). Primary outcome measure was the change in the number of new cases over 30 days before and after deployment of a control measure. We also compared the effectiveness of centralized versus decentralized DCT. Time series data for COVID-19 were analyzed using Mann-Kendall (M-K) trend tests to investigate the impact of these measures on changes in the number of new cases. The rate of change in the number of new cases was compared using M-K z-values and Sen's slope.

RESULTS

In spite of the widespread implementation of conventional strategies such as lockdowns, travel restrictions, social distancing, school closures, and stay-at-home requests, analysis revealed that these measures could not prevent the spread of the virus. However, countries which adopted DCT with centralized data storage were more likely to contain the spread.

CONCLUSIONS

Centralized DCT was more effective in containing the spread of COVID-19. Early implementation of centralized DCT should be considered in future outbreaks. However, challenges such as public acceptance, data security and privacy concerns will need to be addressed.

Patients’ Satisfaction with E-Prescribing (Wasfaty) in Saudi Arabia: A Survey of Country-Level Implementation

Aim: This study was conducted to assess patient satisfaction with the e-prescription service implemented by the Ministry of Health hospitals and primary healthcare centres in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional approach. Data were collected using a random sampling technique, and an online questionnaire was distributed among the study population. A five-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not at all satisfied) to 5 (very satisfied), was used to assess patient satisfaction. Results and Conclusions: A total of 400 patients participated in the study. More than half (57.5%) of them were males, and approximately one-third were between the ages of 30 and 39. Aspects related to the pharmacy, i.e., accessibility of pharmacies in terms of numbers, location, and opening hours, as well as pharmacy facilities, including waiting area, counselling area, dispensing area and parking lots, were skewed towards 5 (very satisfied). Aspects related to pharmacy personnel, i.e., knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as friendliness and approachability, were also skewed towards 5 (very satisfied). Factors related to patient experience with Wasfaty, the new service, as compared with old primary healthcare centres’ pharmaceutical services, such as the availability of pharmacists, procedures for refills, waiting time, privacy, and confidentiality, were also skewed towards 5 (very satisfied).

COVID-19 and other respiratory tract infections at mass gathering religious and sporting events

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Mass gathering (MG) religious events provide ideal conditions for transmission and globalization of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). We review recent literature on COVID-19 and other RTIs at recurring international annual MG religious and sporting events.

RECENT FINDINGS

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic organizers of MG religious and sporting events introduced risk-based infection control measures that limited transmission of RTIs. The 2020 and 2021 Hajj were conducted with limited numbers of pilgrims compared to the annual millions of pilgrims. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were cancelled and held in 2021. The success of the COVID-19 countermeasures at the 2021 Hajj and 2021 Tokyo Olympics was based on implementing good public health and social measures alongside a comprehensive testing strategy.

SUMMARY

MG events are associated with transmission of a range of bacterial and viral RTIs. Introducing risk based a multitude of public health interventions can reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other RTIs.

Perspectives on Telemedicine during the Era of COVID-19; What Can Saudi Arabia Do?

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has represented a challenge to medical practice in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. In contrary to the increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients, there was a limitation in the capacity of medical practices and access to healthcare. A growing body of evidence from healthcare settings in Saudi Arabia and worldwide has suggested a possible role for telemedicine in responding to this evolving need. Telemedicine can be used for triage, direct care, follow-up, and consultation. It could be delivered through synchronous, asynchronous, and mixed approaches. While telemedicine has several advantages, such as accessibility and cost-effectiveness, its diagnostic reliability should be further investigated. The Saudi Vision (2030) has drawn up a roadmap to invest in digital healthcare during the coming decade; however, some barriers related to using telemedicine in Saudi healthcare settings, including cultural issues and technical difficulties, should be openly discussed. In addition, before putting telemedicine in practice on a wide scale in Saudi Arabia, more efforts should be carried out to issue updated legislation and regulations, discuss and respond to ethical concerns, and ensure data security.