Digital Transformation in the Area of Health in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction:

The digital transformation in healthcare has become a critical focus worldwide, with Saudi Arabia making significant strides in integrating digital technologies within its healthcare system. This systematic review aims to evaluate the evolution, impact, and challenges of digital health interventions in Saudi Arabia over the last five years, focusing on interventional studies and clinical trials to understand their effectiveness in improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Methods:

A comprehensive search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library, focusing on studies published from 2017 to 2022. Only peer-reviewed, interventional studies that reported on the implementation and outcomes of digital health technologies within the Saudi healthcare system were included. The main search terms included "digital transformation," "eHealth," "telemedicine," "electronic health records (EHRs)," and "health information technology (HIT)." The selection process involved screening titles and abstracts, followed by full-text reviews to determine study eligibility based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results:

Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, showcasing a range of digital interventions such as telemedicine, EHRs, mobile health applications, and digital patient education platforms. Key findings include a reduction in hospital readmission rates among chronic heart failure patients through telemedicine interventions (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.86), improvements in glycemic control in diabetes patients using mobile health applications (mean difference in HbA1c levels of -0.5%), and a 25% reduction in medication errors following EHR implementation. These results underscore the effectiveness of digital technologies in enhancing patient safety and healthcare outcomes.

Conclusions:

The systematic review highlights the positive impact of digital health interventions in the Saudi healthcare sector, demonstrating their potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and system efficiencies. Despite challenges such as data privacy concerns and the need for increased digital literacy among healthcare professionals, the findings affirm the value of continued investment in digital health technologies