The impact of hospital accreditation in selected Middle East countries: a scoping review
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 17 August 2021
Issue publication date: 24 February 2022
Abstract
Purpose
There is conflicting evidence concerning the impact of hospital accreditation programmes, including across the Middle East Region, where such programmes have been most recently implemented in Iran, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. This paper maps available evidence regarding the impact of hospital accreditation in these three countries and draws attention to knowledge gaps for consideration.
Design/methodology/approach
This scoping review was conducted in 2020, using the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Five research databases were searched, along with five government and accreditation agency websites. Searches were complemented by citation chaining. English and Arabic publications evaluating hospital accreditation in the selected countries were included. Commentaries and articles not based on primary data collection and reviews of existing registry data were excluded. There were no exclusions based on study design or methods. A descriptive numerical summary and thematic analysis were used to synthesise the literature.
Findings
studies were included. The majority (n = 35) were published since 2014 and conducted in Saudi Arabia (n = 16). Four themes emerged: organisational impacts, patient safety, quality of care, and patient satisfaction and experience. The literature generally highlights positive impacts of accreditation, but most studies were based solely on health professionals' subjective perceptions. “Organisational impacts” had the largest, and strongest body of supporting evidence, while “patient safety” had the least and most variable evidence.
Originality/value
Opportunities to strengthen the design and evaluation of hospital accreditation programmes in the selected countries are highlighted. Additional experimental, mixed-method research is recommended to strengthen the evidence base and inform practical enhancements to hospital accreditation programmes in the region.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The first author completed this work as part of the requirements for the Master’s degree, which is supported by a scholarship provided by the University of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Citation
Khan, S., Yousefinezhadi, T. and Hinchcliff, R. (2022), "The impact of hospital accreditation in selected Middle East countries: a scoping review", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 36 No. 1, pp. 51-68. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-04-2021-0159
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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