Enabling Factors for the Successful Implementation of the CBAHI Accreditation Program

Abstract

Background

Healthcare organizations worldwide tend to implement hospital accreditation programs to improve the quality of care they provide. However, the literature shows inconsistent findings on the impact of such programs on the quality of care due to improper implementation of accreditation programs.

Purpose

This study explored the enabling factors for the effective implementation of the Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) program in the Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This qualitative study involved 22 professionals from five CBAHI-accredited MOH hospitals in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. A purposive sampling technique was applied, and data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis approach was applied to the interview transcripts.

Results

Four themes and 11 subthemes emerged. The emerging themes included the development of human capital, resolving quality management issues, ensuring the availability of resources, and strategizing CBAHI-specific solutions.

Conclusion

The current study fills this knowledge gap by identifying the factors leading to the effective implementation of the CBAHI accreditation program in the MOH hospitals. Only the effective execution of the CBAHI will increase healthcare quality and, as a result, justify the significant resources and efforts invested in these programs. Future research should replicate similar study in other governments or private hospitals.

Keywords:

• hospital accreditation
• enabling factors
• CBAHI
• quality of care

Abbreviations

CBAHI, Central Board for Accreditation on Healthcare Institutions; MOH, Ministry of Health.

Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

This study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Participants were approached individually and the details of the study methods and procedures were explained verbally. The participation in the study was voluntary, where not incentives were provided. A Written consent was obtained from all participants included publication of anonymized response.

Ethical approval for this study was granted by both the Human Research Ethics Committee of Universiti Sains Malaysia (reference number: USM\JEPeM\18080384, date: February 21, 2019) and the Ethical Review Committee (IRB) of the General Directorate of Health Affairs, Madinah, Saudi Arabia (reference number: H-03-M-084, date: March 18, 2019).

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to all hospitals and their employees for their valuable participation, which made this study possible.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grants from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.