Overuse of emergency rooms (ER) is a public health problem. To investigate this issue, a cross-sectional survey was conducted at the ERs of King Abdul-Aziz Hospital, King Fahd Hospital, and Al-Thaghor Hospital in November 2013 with the aims of estimating emergency service utilization for non-urgent cases, identifying the predictors of ER utilization for non-urgent cases, and measuring patients’ knowledge of primary healthcare centers (PHCCs). Patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and the data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. We recruited 300 patients; males comprised 50.7% of the sample. A higher proportion of patients with non-urgent cases visited the ER three to four times a year (P=0.001). A higher proportion of patients without emergencies had not attempted to visit an outpatient clinic before the ER (P=0.003). Most patients without emergencies thought the ER was the first place to consult in case of illness. Most patients who visited the ER were single, < 15 years, and had lower incomes. Patients requested ER services for primary care-treatable conditions because of limited services and resources as well as limited working hours at PHCCs. Most patients (90.0%) were knowledgeable about PHCCs, with those of lower education being more knowledgeable. Patients reported long ER waiting times (≥ 3 hours), no organization (85.9%), and lack of medical staff. Overall, overuse of ER services is high at the Ministry of Health hospitals in Jeddah. The risk factors for ER overuse are age < 15 years, singlehood, and low incomes. Policy makers and health providers have a challenging task to control ER overuse. We recommend developing strategies to implement policies aimed at reducing non-urgent ER use as well as making healthcare services more available to the population.

This research aims to investigate the impact of marketing mix strategy on patient satisfaction in private sector hospitals in Jeddah city in Saudi Arabia (KSA). This research consists of the independent variables represented by marketing mix strategy components (namely health service, pricing, distribution, promotion, physical evidence, process, and personal strategies) and dependent variable which represented by patient satisfaction. In order to explore the relationship between independent and dependent variables the quantitative method was used to collect primary data through a questionnaire, which was administered in the private sector hospitals in Jeddah city with hospital managers. All Jeddah city private sector hospitals were targeted in this research rather than a representative sample of these hospitals. The research population of this research consists of 272 managers from 34 private hospitals in Jeddah. The research sample in this research also consists of the total population accounted 272 managers. The researcher retrieves 190 valid research questionnaires. A purposive sampling strategy was used to choose the participants in this research. The results confirm significant differences in the influence of the marketing mix strategy have varied significant and insignificant influence on the patient satisfaction. Furthermore, the results exhibit those hospital managers might benefit more by placing more emphasis on an integrated service marketing mix strategy and recognizing the patient satisfaction. The result shows that five out of seven variables are significant (health service, promotion, physical evidence, process and personal strategies) on the other hand two variables are insignificant (pricing and distribution strategies). This research contributes to the academic and practical knowledge as being one of the first attempts to investigate empirically the impact of the marketing mix strategy on patient satisfaction. In addition to recognizing the vital roles of marketing in improving the patient satisfaction, this research integrates, refines and extends the empirical work conducted in the field of health services marketing in Saudi Arabia. It raises many implications for managers in these hospitals, such as considering the importance of influences by marketing strategy on patient satisfaction. This research provides useful guidelines for further and future research possibilities such as exploring the influence of the marketing mix strategy influence on other hospital performance criteria.

The present study was designed to examine the role of socioeconomic status (SES) of the mother’s knowledge about different aspects of diabetes and the glycemic control of type 1 children with diabetes. Samples were taken from successive admissions to the outpatient diabetes clinics in Prince Sultan Medical Military City (PSMMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A well designed questionnaire covering different aspects including demographic data, educational background, and socioeconomic status of the care providers was used to collect information from mothers of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) children. The questionnaire was designed on the basis of the Michigan diabetes knowledge scale and also on the basis of food habits of Saudi Arabia and it was validated. The questionnaire was completed after interviewing the mothers during visits to the PSMMC hospital. Every mother was asked with those particular questions. Glycemic control was assessed by glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c). The socio-demographic data of mothers was recorded by self-report. It was found that, there was significant variation in the knowledge of diabetes among mothers with different ages (p<0.05). Old age mothers and widowed mothers were better informed, however the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). No significant results were observed between family income and diabetes knowledge (p>0.05). However, a positive relationship was observed with higher income and higher knowledge. There was a significant association between mothers knowledge of diabetes and HbA1C level (r=-0.1739, p<0.05) indicating that, higher knowledge ultimately leads to greater control of HbA1c level. A significant association was also observed between education and HbA1c level (r=-0.2538, p<0.05) with children of mothers with higher level of education showing a better control of glycated haemoglobin levels. However, no significant association was found between monthly family income and HbA1C level. In conclusion, the current study illustrated that, mothers with more knowledge of diabetes and with better education were maintaining a better glycemic control of their children, irrespective of the socio-economic status. It was found that, to improve glycemic control and to decrease acute and chronic complications of diabetes in children, mother’s knowledge and education is needed.

Environmental pollution from garment manufacturing is a major concern due to its widely-felt impact on climate change. Consequently, the researchers set about assessing KAP (Knowledge, Attitude and Practice) and its relationship with, and impact on, green fashion innovation adoption among Jordanian companies. This work examined the relationship between the independent variables, represented by KAP, and the dependent variable, which was Green Fashion Innovation Adoption in Jordan. A quantitative approach utilized a cross-sectional survey to gather primary data from upper and middle-level management in Jordanian garment companies. The sample size was 257 valid questionnaires. The results showed a statistically significant impact of knowledge and attitude toward green fashion innovation adoption, but failed to identify a statistically significant impact of practice on the same. This research contributes positively to the diffusion of awareness about going green in innovative methods and systems in Jordan’s garment industry, and provides suggestions to practitioners.

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