ENHANCING QUALITY OF CARE THROUGH MULTIDISCIPLINARY HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS: INSIGHTS FROM NURSING, PHYSIOTHERAPY, DENTISTRY, PHARMACY, AND HEALTH SECURITY IN SAUDI ARABIA
Main Article Content
Keywords
Quality of care; Multidisciplinary healthcare; Nursing; Physiotherapy; Dentistry; Pharmacy; Health security; Saudi Arabia; Interprofessional collaboration; Vision 2030.
Abstract
High-quality healthcare depends on integrated contributions from multiple professions, yet empirical evidence from Saudi Arabia remains limited. This study examined how nursing, physiotherapy, dentistry, pharmacy, and health security collectively shape the quality of care within the framework of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reforms. A mixed-methods design was adopted, combining a survey of 356 professionals across hospitals, clinics, teaching institutions, and primary health centers with 30 semi-structured interviews. Quantitative measures assessed quality of care, patient safety, satisfaction, and interprofessional collaboration, while qualitative data explored experiences, barriers, and policy drivers. Survey results showed that nurses and pharmacists achieved the highest safety and quality ratings, physiotherapists were most associated with patient satisfaction, and dentists and health security professionals contributed system-level preventive and protective roles. Structural equation modeling confirmed that collaboration (β = 0.46, p < 0.001), safety (β = 0.39, p < 0.001), and satisfaction (β = 0.28, p < 0.01) collectively explained 68% of the variance in quality outcomes. Thematic analysis identified three recurring insights: synergy through collaboration, barriers such as hierarchy and role ambiguity, and the catalytic role of Vision 2030 in promoting integration. The findings underscore the importance of deliberate interprofessional strategies for advancing patient outcomes and systemic resilience. They highlight actionable priorities for Saudi hospitals, universities, and policymakers, including interprofessional education, standardized collaboration protocols, and digital innovations in safety. Multidisciplinary care, when institutionalized, offers a viable pathway toward achieving world-class healthcare benchmarks under Vision 2030.
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