Published 2025-06-10
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Abstract
Introduction: Saudi Arabia is experiencing an epidemiological transition and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes and hypertension, have contributed to more than 70 percent of deaths. The healthcare system is moving to a so-called Model of Care, which focuses on chronic disease management (CDM) in integrated health clusters in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Health Sector Transformation Program. The leading issue in this change is the shift in the role of the nurse as it shifts to no longer engaging in bedside help but instead becoming an autonomous leader in patient education, care organization, and digital health monitoring.
Study Objective: This systematic review aims to identify, evaluate and summarize all currently available research on the impact and effectiveness of various types of nursing interventions for managing chronic diseases within the context and parameters of the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: A systematic review was done in accordance with PRISMA 2020. Peer-reviewed publications that were published during the period between 2016 and 2026 were searched using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Saudi Digital Library. The inclusion criteria were based on original research (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods) of nurse-led interventions in chronic conditions in the Kingdom. A standardized matrix was used to extract the data and a quality of the included studies was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists.
Conclusion: Nurses play a very important role in the Saudi Arabia approach towards addressing the chronic disease crisis. Although their contributions to clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction are significant, the optimization of this role cannot be carried out fully without policy changes that will provide more professional freedom and workforce shortages. By making nurses the key coordinators of the Health Clusters, the sustainable realization of health objectives in the Vision 2030 is achievable.