A Study Of Environmental Factors Surrounding Human Health And The Nursing Role Related To Individual And Community Health

Abstract

One of the key determinants of health is the environmental factors, and the ability of frontline healthcare workers with respect to mitigating the risks of these factors in a given national context is little known. This research examined a critical gap between the environmental health issues that are important to the community and the readiness of the nursing personnel in Saudi Arabia. The purpose was to establish the main environmental health aspects in the local area, evaluate the knowledge and practice of nurses, and investigate what hinders their participation. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was adopted, with the collection of survey data among 400 community members and 425 registered nurses in Riyadh and Jeddah, and supporting the data with 20 interviews with nurses. There was a high level of community perceived risk (Mean=4.1/5), which was significantly higher in Riyadh than Jeddah (p<0.001). Primary care settings proved to have the highest level of knowledge (Mean=12.3/20), though their practice frequency was low (Mean=2.8/5). The prediction of practice was only partially achieved through knowledge (R 2 =0.176, p<0.001). The most significant obstacles included the absence of protocols (mentioned by 75 percent of interviewees) and the fact of time constraint. The paper concludes that environmental health hazards are relevant to the general population, but systemic and institutional aspects have a crippling effect on the nursing profession. The results form an evidence base upon which specific national guidelines and educational programs could be created to empower nurses as critical facilitators in the promotion of environmental health and the prevention of diseases in the Saudi healthcare system.