The Future of Mental Health Nursing Practice In Saudi Arabia: A Delphi Study

Abstract

Background: Mental health nursing education, research, and practice is well examined in North America and Europe. But, evidence in literature relating to the future of nursing practice in Saudi Arabia is very limited. Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the future directions of mental health nursing practice in Saudi Arabia by obtaining expert consensus and to recommend a future agenda for policymakers and researchers in the field of mental health nursing. Methodology: A Delphi method was used. The data was collected over three rounds. For the first round, the researcher utilized open-ended question questionnaire. Following the content analysis of the open-ended questions (639) responses were elicited. A 33 items questionnaire was then constructed with five major categories and were utilized later during the second and third round of the study. The initial sample consisted of (N= 87 males) and (N=63 females), Saudi and Non-Saudi. The rank of panel members were staff nurses, nurse managers, lecturers, assistant professors, associate professors, and professors. The second round. consisted of (N=140), while the third round consisted of(N=120) of the experts panel who agreed to continue in participating in the study. Results: The results of the study showed that consensus among the experts was reached on 19 elements with agreement level of 80% or more. In conclusion, it was apparent that expert panel believes that there are many elements that should shape up the future of mental health nursing practice by 2025. However, less emphasis was apparent from the panel ratings on items such as the stigma associated with mental illness and mentally ill people. Conclusions: The results of the study showed that 19 items have achieved 80% and over of consensus and agreement by the experts. Most of the remaining items reached an agreement level by the experts panel ranging between 60% to 79%, which suggests that the future directions of mental health nursing practice in Saudi Arabia is not only limited to those items that achieved consensus by 80% or more, and that policymakers and nurse researchers should consider both thoroughly.