Healthcare Professionals’ Awareness of The Patient Educator’s Role in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and Aims: To assess healthcare professionals’ awareness of the patient educator’s role and identify the associa¬tion between their level of awareness and different sociodemographic variables in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study design was cross-sectional; 387 healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia were recruited by the researchers through convenience sampling. The researchers collected the data using an online questionnaire, and the analysis was done with the JMP software. The study duration was from January to April 2022. Results: Approximately 51.59% of the sample demonstrated a satisfactory level of awareness regarding the patient educator’s role, and the other 48.41% showed a fair level. Misconceptions among the participants were common: 53.44% believed patient educators performed wound care, 52.91% that they checked patient vital signs, and 50.26% that they performed physical exams. Awareness levels were associated with gender, profession, job classification, bachelor’s degree university, level of education, knowing about patient education and receiving courses on patient education. Conclusions: The research highlights varied awareness and misconceptions about patient educators among healthcare professionals, with ties to sociodemographic factors. Researchers recommend further investigation, clearer job descriptions, and interdisciplinary education to address these issues.

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