Nurses' Perspectives on the Integration of Preventative Care Models in Saudi Arabian Primary Healthcare

Abstract

Preventative care models have been increasingly adopted in primary healthcare settings worldwide to proactively prevent disease and promote population health. In Saudi Arabia, the integration of preventative services into primary care is still an emerging practice. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of primary care nurses in Saudi Arabia regarding the facilitators, barriers, and impacts of integrating preventative care models into their practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 20 nurses from primary healthcare centers across three regions of Saudi Arabia. Thematic analysis revealed four main themes: 1) Perceived benefits of preventative care, 2) Challenges with preventative care delivery, 3) Factors enabling preventative care, and 4) Recommendations to enhance preventative services. Nurses strongly believed in the importance and positive impacts of providing preventative care but cited issues like time constraints, staffing shortages, lack of training, and low patient awareness as key barriers. Strong leadership support, dedicated preventative care appointments, improved technology systems, and patient education were identified as crucial facilitators. The findings highlight the need for organizational changes and support to enhance the capacity of the primary care nursing workforce to successfully implement preventative care models in Saudi Arabia. Integrating nurses' perspectives in the design of preventative services can help optimize delivery and improve population health outcomes.