International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Knowledge and Attitude of Saudi Health Professions’ Students Regarding Patient’s Bill of Rights

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Salwa B. El-Sobkey 1
Alyah M. Almoajel 2
May N. Al-Muammar 2
1 Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2 Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
10.15171/ijhpm.2014.73
Abstract
Background
Patient’s rights are worldwide considerations. Saudi Patient’s Bill of Rights (PBR) which was established in 2006 contained 12 items. Lack of knowledge regarding the Saudi PBR limits its implementation in health facilities. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of health professions’ students at College of Applied Medical Sciences (CAMS) Riyadh Saudi Arabia regarding the existence and content of Saudi PBR as well as their attitude toward its ineffectiveness.
 
Method
A 3-parts survey was used to collect data from 239 volunteer students participated in the study. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics using SPSS.
 
Results
Results showed that although the majority of students (96.7%) believe in the ineffectiveness of patient’s rights, half (52.3%) of them had perceptual knowledge regarding the existence of Saudi PBR and only 7.9% of them were knowledgeable about some items (1–4 items) of the bill. Privacy and confidentiality of patient was the most common known patient’s rights. Students’ academic level was not correlated to neither their knowledge regarding the bill existence or its content nor to their attitude toward the bill. The majority of the students (93%) reported that only one course within their curriculum was patient’s rights-course related. About one quarter (23.4%) of the students reported that teaching staff used to mention patient’s rights in their teaching sessions.
 
Conclusion
The Saudi health professions students at CAMS have positive attitude toward the ineffectiveness of patient’s rights nevertheless they showed limited knowledge regarding the existence of Saudi PBR and its contents. CAMS curriculums do not support the subject of patient’s rights.
Keywords
Patient’s Rights
Saudi Patient’s Bill of Rights (PBR)
Knowledge
Attitude
Bioethics
Saudi Health Profession Program Curriculum
Saudi Health Professions Student
Subjects

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  • Received Date 05 May 2014
  • Revised Date 27 July 2014
  • Accepted Date 28 July 2014
  • First Published Date 01 August 2014
  • Published Date 01 August 2014