Evaluation of older people health passport implementation at primary health care centers in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of older people health passport's use by older people and health workers in primary health care centers (PHCCs) in 5 regions of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study was conducted to evaluate the health knowledge, attitudes and practices before and after the use of older people health passport. A cross-sectional study on the use of passport was carried out among older people and their healthcare staff (doctors, nurses, and health educators) in selected PHCCs in 5 regions (Al-Ahsa, Jazan, Qassim, Asir, and the Northern Borders) in KSA from August 2019 to February 2020.

Results: Statistically significant improvement (p<0.001) in mean total score for health knowledge, attitude and practice post-utilization of health passport was found. The relationship between knowledge and practice post-passport use is stronger as compared to before use. More than half of older people (66.5%) reported using the health passport during the past 3 months when a medical service was required, 66.7% used it regularly and 81.2% were motivated to continue using it. Among the healthcare workers, statistically significant difference (p=0.039) was reported between the groups with regard to the use of health passport saving time and effort with more health educators (86.5%) in agreement.

Conclusion: Health passport use improved the health knowledge, attitude, and practice among the older people. Participant's impression regarding its use was positive since majority reported a favorable experience.