Health rights knowledge among medical school students at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Dublin Core

Title

Health rights knowledge among medical school students at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Author

Al-Amoudi, Samia M.
Al-Harbi, Abdullah A.
Al-Sayegh, Nasser Y.
Eldeek, Basem S.
Kafy, Souzan M.
Al-Ahwal, Mahmoud
Bondagji, Nabeel S.

Publisher

5/1/17

Language

English

Publication Date

20170501

Abstract

Background: Health care is a basic human right, and Saudi Arabia affirms these rights for all its citizens. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of medical students regarding health rights in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) from September 2015 through November 2015. A questionnaire written in English collected demographic data and included questions about reproductive health care and health rights of women and patients with cancer, senility, or special needs. Results: Of the 267 participants, 184 (68.9%) were female, and 252 (94.4%) were Saudi. Regarding consent, 87 (32.6%) and 113 (42.3%) participants believed a female patient required the consent of a male guardian to receive medical treatment or surgery, respectively, in Saudi Arabia, and only 106 (39.7%) knew that a female patient could provide consent for a caesarean section. Sixty-six (24.7%) believed that abortion is never allowed in Islam. Only 93 (34.8%) were aware that acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients had health rights, about half (144, 53.9%) knew that cancer patients have a right to full information, and most (181, 67.8%) believed that a patient had the right to withhold health information from his/her family. Approximately half were aware that cancer patients have the right to free medical treatment (138, 51.7%) or that health rights applied to special needs patients (137, 51.3%) and senile patients (122, 45.7%). Conclusions: The knowledge of KAU medical students regarding health rights of certain patient populations highlights the importance of health rights education in medical school.

Primary Classification

9.2

Secondary Classification

9.2

Primary keywords

health care delivery--[pri];knowledge--[pri];medical students--[pri];patients' rights--[pri]

Secondary keywords

abortion;aged;disabled persons;HIV infections;informed consent;rights;women's health

Subject

Saudi Arabia--[pri]

Journal Article

PLoS One2017 May 1; 12(5):9 p.

Note

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Copyright © 2017 Al-Amoudi et al

Call Number

citation

Bibliography

17 refs

ISSN

19326203 (online)

Collection

IMSE Database

Citation

“Health rights knowledge among medical school students at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,” Islamic Medical & Scientific Ethics, accessed January 16, 2025, https://imse.ibp.georgetown.domains/items/show/37706.