Mixed Methods Research Proposal on Cost of Diabetes in Saudi Arabia

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

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 directly cost a total of $3.8 billion, equal to 4.3 percent of total health expenditures in Saudi Arabia in 2019. Estimated overweight and obesity–attributable absenteeism and presenteeism costs a total of $15.5 billion, equal to 0.9 percent of GDP in 2019” (Malkin et al., 2022).

Table 2. Estimated costs attributable to overweight and obesity (Malkin et al., 2022).

This research is relevant to your research area as it provides an estimate of the economic costs associated with obesity in Saudi Arabia, which is a key public health concern in the country. Additionally, it highlights the need for interventions and policy options that can reduce the burden of obesity on the healthcare system and the population's health. This research can also be used as a base for further research that can provide insights into potential interventions and policy options that can reduce the burden of obesity in the country.

Additionally, government reports such as 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.

Additional statistical data reveals more regarding Saudi Arabia’s health economics and policy:

· According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the per capita spending on health in Saudi Arabia was $1,447 in 2016.

· A study published in the Journal of Health Economics (Al-Faris et al., 2018) found that the private sector accounts for a significant proportion of healthcare spending in Saudi Arabia, with an estimated 45% of healthcare spending in the country going to the private sector.

· According to a study published in the Journal of Public Health (Al-Nozha et al., 2016), 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.

· According to the Saudi Arabian National Family Survey, in 2017, the prevalence of diabetes in Saudi Arabia was 27.8%

In summary, the literature on the economic and public health policy implications of chronic diseases, particularly diabetes and obesity, in Saudi Arabia suggests that these diseases place a significant burden on the healthcare system and the population's health. Studies have found that current policy measures are not entirely effective in addressing this problem, and there is a need for interventions and policy options that can reduce the burden of these diseases.

Section 4: Research Methodology

The research methodology for this study would involve a mixed-methods approach, which includes both quantitative and qualitative methods. This approach would allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the economic and public health policy implications of chronic diseases, particularly diabetes and obesity, in Saudi Arabia (Cresswell & Plano Clark, 2011).

Quantitative research methods would be used to estimate the economic costs of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, in Saudi Arabia. This could include a cost-of-illness study, which would estimate the direct and indirect costs of these diseases, such as the costs of medical treatment, medications, and lost productivity. Data for this could be collected from hospital records, surveys, and other relevant sources.

Qualitative research methods would be used to explore the perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals, policy-makers, and patients with chronic diseases in relation to the current policy measures and interventions in place in Saudi Arabia. This could include in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Data collected through these methods would provide a more in-depth understanding of the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of current policy measures and interventions, as well as potential areas for improvement.

The population relevant to this research would be individuals with chronic diseases, particularly diabetes and obesity, as well as healthcare professionals and policy-makers involved in the management and treatment of these diseases in Saudi Arabia.

Sampling for this research would be done using a multi-stage sampling method. This would involve first selecting a sample of healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and clinics, which provide care for individuals with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia. Within each selected facility, a sample of patients with chronic diseases would be selected for the cost-of-illness study, and a sample of healthcare professionals would be selected for the qualitative research (Cresswell & Plano Clark, 2011).

For the policy makers, a purposive sampling method would be used to select a sample of policy-makers involved in the management and treatment of chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia. This would involve identifying key policy-makers, such as representatives from the Ministry of Health and other relevant government agencies, and inviting them to participate in the study.

Ethical Issues

In terms of ethical issues, the study would ensure that participants are fully informed about the study and provide their informed consent. The study would also ensure that the participants' privacy and confidentiality are protected and that any sensitive information is handled appropriately. Additionally, the study would comply with all relevant national and international ethical guidelines for research involving human subjects (National Research Council, 2011).

In summary, the research methodology for this study would involve a mixed-methods approach, including both quantitative and qualitative methods, to estimate the economic costs of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, in Saudi Arabia and explore the perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals, policy-makers, and patients with chronic diseases in relation to the current policy measures and interventions in place in Saudi Arabia. The study would also consider ethical issues such as informed consent, privacy and confidentiality.

Section 5: Data Analysis

The data collected through this research would be analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods.

Quantitative Data Analysis:

· The data collected through the cost-of-illness study would be analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as means, medians, and standard deviations, to estimate the economic costs of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, in Saudi Arabia.

· Regression analysis would be used to identify factors associated with the economic costs of chronic diseases.

· The data would be analyzed using appropriate statistical software, such as STATA or SPSS.

Qualitative Data Analysis:

· The data collected through the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions would be analyzed using thematic analysis.

· This would involve transcribing the data and reading through it several times to identify common themes and patterns.

· The data would then be coded, and categories would be developed that reflect the themes that emerged from the data.

· The data would be analyzed using appropriate software, such as NVivo or Atlas.ti.

Before data analysis, the data would go through a process of cleaning and quality checking. This would involve checking for missing data, outliers, and inconsistencies, and making appropriate adjustments.

In addition, ethical considerations would be taken into account throughout the data analysis process, such as ensuring that the participants' privacy and confidentiality are protected and that any sensitive information is handled appropriately.

Overall, this research would use a mixed-methods approach to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data, using appropriate statistical analysis and qualitative analysis methods, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the economic and public health policy implications of chronic diseases, particularly diabetes and obesity, in Saudi Arabia.

Section 6: Timings and Project Management

There are several reasons why a research project on health economics and public policy in Saudi Arabia should be timed strategically:

1. Data availability: Data on health economics and public policy in Saudi Arabia may be limited, so it is important to plan the research project at a time when the most recent and relevant data is available.

2. Funding: Research projects often require funding, and it is important to consider the availability of funding sources and the application deadlines for grants.

3. Relevance: The timing of the research project should be aligned with current policy discussions and decision-making processes in Saudi Arabia, as the findings of the research can inform and contribute to these processes.

4. Seasonality: Some health issues may be more prevalent at certain times of the year, and it may be useful to conduct the research during these times to capture the most accurate data.

5. Collaboration: Collaborating with other researchers or institutions in Saudi Arabia can provide valuable insights and resources for the project, and the timing of the project should be coordinated with these partners to ensure their availability.

Overall, the timing of a research project on health economics and public policy in Saudi Arabia should be carefully 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.