Faculty and Students’ Perspective of Health Informatics Programs in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Health Informatics is a discipline that deals with the acquisition, storage, retrieval and use of health data, information, and technologies for the purpose of improving healthcare quality. It involves the application of information science methods to analyse health information for improved problem solving and healthcare delivery. The use of information system applications in healthcare is increasingly popular and includes the use of applications like medical records, order entry, medical knowledge provision, imaging, as well as guidelines and other types of decision support. AIM: To examine health informatics undergraduate programs in Saudi Arabian government universities. METHODS: This study follows a quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional design using a self-reported, electronic questionnaire. The data was collected using an online questionnaire via Google Forms. Probability stratified random sampling was utilized. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: Findings revealed a response rate at 79% (n=184) of students and 67% (n=38) of faculty members. Variation was detected in the level of agreement toward the examined six variables. Both students and faculty members express same level of agreement toward all variables. A significant correlation was determined between facilities and other variables such as students’ involvement, research, admission and curriculum. Similarly, there is a significant relationship between students’ involvement and curriculum with research, demission, faculty members role and outcomes.