Full Research Proposal

Section 1: Introduction

Research problem: The high prevalence of chronic diseases and the corresponding burden on the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Saudi Arabia has been facing an increasing burden of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. These diseases not only have a significant impact on the health and well-being of individuals but also place a significant strain on the country's healthcare system.

Research area: The research area would focus on the economic and public health policy implications of the high prevalence of chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia. This could include investigating the costs of treatment and management of these diseases, as well as the effectiveness of current policy measures in addressing the problem. Additionally, the research could explore potential interventions and policy options for reducing the burden of chronic diseases in the country.

Broader research: The research on chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia would be part of a broader research field on health economics and public health policy. Other areas of study within this field could include investigating the impact of health systems and policies on health outcomes, the economic costs of disease, and the effectiveness of different interventions in improving population health.

Section 2: Unpack the Novelty

The need for this research stems from the high burden of chronic diseases on the healthcare system and the population's health in Saudi Arabia. The literature on the economic and public health policy implications of chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia is limited, and there is a need to understand the costs and effectiveness of current policy measures in addressing the problem. This research aims to fill this gap in the literature and provide insights into potential interventions and policy options that can reduce the burden of chronic diseases in the country.

This research takes a fresh approach by focusing on the economic and public health policy implications of chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia. It aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the costs and effectiveness of current policy measures and identify potential interventions that can reduce the burden of chronic diseases in the country. This research will also consider the unique context of the Saudi Arabian healthcare system and society when analyzing the problem.

The implications of this research for practice are significant. The findings of this research can inform policy-making and decision-making in the healthcare sector, and guide the development of interventions to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in the country. Additionally, the research can provide a framework for other countries facing similar challenges to understand the economic and public health policy implications of chronic diseases and identify potential solutions.

Focusing on the economic and public health policy implications of chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia is important as it can provide valuable insights into the current and future burden of these diseases on the healthcare system and the population's health. Additionally, understanding the economic costs and the effectiveness of current policy measures can inform the development of interventions and policy options that can reduce the burden of chronic diseases in the country.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of diabetes in Saudi Arabia was 27.8% in 2016, which is one of the highest rates in the world. Additionally, the prevalence of obesity in Saudi Arabia is among the highest in the world, with data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) indicating that over 60% of adults in the country are overweight or obese. These high rates of chronic diseases place a significant burden on the healthcare system, and are projected to continue to increase in the future if the current trends continue.

In addition, the economic burden of chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia is significant. A study published in the Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications estimated the direct and indirect costs of diabetes in Saudi Arabia to be around $5.5 billion annually. This includes costs such as hospitalization, medication, and lost productivity.

Furthermore, The National Transformation Program 2020 and Vision 2030, which is the Government's ambitious plan to diversify the economy and improve the country's infrastructure, highlights the importance of reducing the burden of chronic diseases in order to improve the population's health and productivity. Therefore, research on the economic and public health policy implications of chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia can provide valuable insights into the current and future burden of these diseases, as well as potential interventions and policy options that can reduce this burden, and support the country's vision for a sustainable and healthy future.

Disease

Prevalence (%)

Economic Costs (Annual, $ billion)

Diabetes

27.8

5.5

Cardiovascular

Not available

Not available

Obesity

Not available

Not available

Table 1. Disease, prevalence, and cost in Saudia Arabia.

Section 3: Literature Review and Overview

There is a growing body of literature from academic sources on the economic and public health policy implications of chronic diseases, particularly diabetes and obesity, in Saudi Arabia. This literature primarily comes from peer-reviewed journals and includes studies on the costs of treatment and management of these diseases, as well as the effectiveness of current policy measures in addressing the problem.

For example, a study published in the Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications (Al-Hazzaa et al., 2015) estimated the direct and indirect costs of diabetes in Saudi Arabia to be around $5.5 billion annually. The study analyzed data from hospital records and conducted a survey of patients with diabetes to estimate the costs of hospitalization, medication, and lost productivity.

Another study published in PLoS One (Al Slamah et al., 2020) investigated the impact of diabetes self-management education programs on healthcare utilization and costs in Saudi Arabia. The study found that such programs led to a significant reduction in hospitalization rates and costs, suggesting that diabetes self-management education can be an effective strategy for reducing the burden of diabetes on the healthcare system.

Similarly, a study published in the Journal of Public Health (Al-Nozha et al., 2016) analyzed data from the Saudi Arabian National Family Survey and found that the prevalence of obesity in Saudi Arabia is among the highest in the world, with over 60% of adults in the country being overweight or obese. The study also found that obesity is associated with a higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers, highlighting the need for effective interventions to address this problem.

Furthermore, the study by Malkin et al. (2022) aimed to estimate the economic burden of overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia, by calculating the direct and indirect costs associated with these conditions. The direct costs include the costs of medical treatments and medications, while the indirect costs include the costs of lost productivity due to disability or premature death. The study found that the economic burden of overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia is significant, with the direct and indirect costs estimated to in the billions of dollars annually (Malkin et al., 2022). The study also found that the majority of the costs were due to indirect costs, such as lost productivity: The impact of overweight and obesity for these diseases is found to...…planned to ensure that the most relevant and accurate data is collected and that the findings can have the greatest impact on policy and decision making.

For my proposal, the timetable consists of the following:

Pre-research:

Month 1-2: Develop research proposal, including research questions, aims, and methods.

Month 2-3: Apply for funding and ethical approval.

Phase 1: Literature review

Month 4: Conduct a comprehensive literature review on the prevalence of chronic diseases and the burden on the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia.

Month 5: Analyze and summarize the literature review findings.

Phase 2: Data collection (Quantitative)

Month 6: Develop survey questionnaire and pilot test.

Month 7: Collect survey data from a sample of patients with chronic diseases and healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia.

Month 8: Clean and analyze survey data.

Phase 3: Data collection (Qualitative)

Month 9: Conduct in-depth interviews with patients with chronic diseases and healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia.

Month 10: Transcribe and analyze the interviews.

Phase 4: Data synthesis

Month 11: Synthesize the findings from the literature review, survey data, and interviews.

Month 12: Write up the research report and prepare for dissemination.

Costing Schedule:

Literature review materials and database access: $1000

Survey development and administration: $5000

Interview transcription and translation: $2000

Data analysis software and hosting: $1000

Travel and accommodation for data collection: $3000

Miscellaneous expenses: $1000

Total: $12000

Task

Start Date

End Date

Duration

Develop research proposal

01-Jan-2023

28-Feb-2023

2 months

Apply for funding and ethical approval

01-Mar-2023

30-Apr-2023

2 months

Conduct literature review

01-May-2023

31-May-2023

1 month

Analyze and summarize literature review

01-Jun-2023

30-Jun-2023

1 month

Develop survey questionnaire and pilot test

01-Jul-2023

31-Jul-2023

1 month

Collect survey data

01-Aug-2023

31-Aug-2023

1 month

Clean and analyze survey data

01-Sep-2023

30-Sep-2023

1 month

Conduct in-depth interviews

01-Oct-2023

31-Oct-2023

1 month

Transcribe and analyze interviews

01-Nov-2023

30-Nov-2023

1 month

Synthesize findings

01-Dec-2023

31-Dec-2023

1 month

Write up research report and prepare for dissemination

01-Jan-2024

31-Jan-2024

1 month

Section 7: Research Instruments

1. Qualitative Interview Schedule:

Introduction: Begin the interview by introducing yourself and explaining the purpose of the study.

Open-ended questions: Ask open-ended questions to explore the experiences and perceptions of patients with chronic diseases and healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia regarding the burden of chronic diseases on the healthcare system.

Probing questions: Follow up on specific points raised by the interviewee to elicit more detailed responses.

Open-ended questions:

Can you describe your experience managing your chronic disease?

How do you feel the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia addresses the needs of patients with chronic diseases?

What do you think are the main challenges facing the healthcare system in addressing the burden of chronic diseases?

Examples of probing questions:

Can you give me an example of a specific time when you felt the healthcare system did not meet your needs?

How do you think the healthcare system could be improved to better address the burden of chronic diseases?

2. Questionnaire:

Introduction: Begin the questionnaire by introducing yourself and explaining the purpose of the study.

Demographic questions: Collect basic demographic information about the participants (e.g. age, gender, education level, occupation).

Questions about chronic diseases: Ask questions to collect information about the chronic diseases of the participants (e.g. type of chronic disease, duration of illness, treatment received).

Questions about healthcare system: Ask questions to evaluate the participants' perceptions of the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia (e.g. accessibility, quality of care, satisfaction with treatment received).

Questions:

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

What is your occupation?

What type of chronic disease do you have?

How long have you been suffering from this chronic disease?

Have you received any treatment for this chronic disease? If yes, please specify.

How satisfied are you with the healthcare services you received for your chronic disease?

How…