Faculty and Students’ Perspective of Health Informatics Programs in Saudi Arabia

Figures & data

Table 1 Name of the Selected Universities and Selection Criteria

Selected Universities	Inclusion Criteria	Exclusion Criteria
Qassim University	Saudi governmental universities	Private universities
Hail University	Health Informatics programs	Private colleges
Jazan University	Bachelor’s degree	Postgraduate degrees
Saudi Electronic University	Bachelor’s degree with internship programs	Health information management
King Faisal University	Male and female	Health information management and technology
	Students from all levels	Bachelor’s degree without internship programs
	Faculty members from all positions	Biomedical informatics programs

Table 2 Distribution of Participants Based on Gender, Age, Faculty Staff Position, Students Level of Study, and University Name

Faculty Members			Students
Gender
Female	15	39.5	Male	70	38.0
Male	23	60.5	Female	111	60.3
Total	38	100.0	Total	181	98.4
Age
18 to 24	2	5.3	18 to 20	102	55.4
25 to 34	12	31.6	21 to 25	79	42.9
35 to 44	13	34.2	26 to 30	3	1.6
45 to 54	6	15.8	Total	184	100.0
55 to 64	5	13.2
Total	38	100.0
Faculty staff position			Current level of study
Teaching assistant	11	28.9	Foundation year	29	15.8
Lecture	13	34.2	First year	16	8.7
Assistant professor	6	15.8	Second year	33	17.9
Associated professor	8	21.1	Third year	16	8.7
Total	38	100.0	Internship year	67	36.4
			Recently graduate	23	12.5
			Total	184	100.0
University Name
Qassim University	6	15.8	Qassim University	41	22.3
Hail University	9	23.7	Hail University	40	21.7
Jazan University	10	26.3	Jazan University	49	26.6
Saudi Electronic University	9	23.7	Saudi Electronic University	30	16.3
King Faisal University	4	10.5	King Faisal University	24	13.0
Total	38	100.0	Total	184	100.0

Table 3 Descriptive Statistics of Student’s Responses

Descriptive Statistics Students
	N		Median
	Valid	Missing
The university has access to most of the data basis and data centres for research	184	0	2.0000
Students benefited from analysis software that provided by the University	184	0	4.0000
All research facilities are available include labs, reading rooms at the library, and wide range wide books at the library.	180	4	4.0000
The university provide printing and data analysis services.	169	15	4.0000
Students benefited from the internet services and research centres that provided by the University.	180	4	4.0000
The school cover all expense required to attend and participation in conferences.	181	3	4.0000
Students are able to access journals and data basis from home.	184	0	4.0000
The most advanced technology are used to deliver the courses.	184	0	3.0000
Bachelor programs in HI encourage to figure the community issues	182	2	4.0000
Faculty members and students are involved in the evaluation of Bachelor programs in HI	184	0	4.0000
Students participate with the academic department to develop the syllabuses at the end of the year	181	3	4.0000
Students concern and Complaints are taken seriously and resolve	175	9	4.0000
The school give their students the opportunity to choose their supervisors and the dissertations topics.	173	11	4.0000
Learning methods relay on a critical thinking approached	176	8	4.0000
Group discussion is a part of the teaching methods in class	176	8	4.0000
Group work is available to produce a group project	177	7	4.0000
Content of bachelor programs in HI considers the students research needs	179	5	4.0000
Syllabuses help to improve students research skills	177	7	4.0000
The content of bachelor programs in HI syllabuses in line with students disciplines	176	8	3.5000
Students benefited from the syllabus in writing the research project	176	8	3.0000
Department provide courses with a consideration of the program needs	173	11	2.0000
Syllabuses help to improve students’ ability for critical thinking	176	8	3.0000
Tests used vary between substantive and editorial	184	0	3.0000
Students asked to prepare a scientific report on curricula topics	184	0	4.0000
Research assistants are available to support the students to provide the required articles and resources	182	2	4.0000
All required information and resources are available to support students in their research.	182	2	4.0000
The period of study in your college is longer than other colleges	177	7	4.0000
There is a balance in the admission between different disciplines	179	5	4.0000
There is typical entry requirement	184	0	4.0000
Faculty staff encourage their students for discussion and critical thinking	184	0	2.0000
Faculty staff always available for advice and guidance.	184	0	3.0000
Students received recommendation and advice from the faculty staff to improve their research.	184	0	4.0000
The school invite specialist faculty staff from outside the University to benefit from their experiences on regular basis	184	0	4.0000
Faculty staff use the most recent journals and articles in their curricula.	179	5	4.0000
The faculty staff present the courses in scientific way which comply with postgraduate courses and their goals.	184	0	3.0000
The faculty staff emphasise on the using multiple sources in their curricula	181	3	4.0000
The faculty staff link the curricula with the reality of the society and culture.	184	0	4.0000
The number of the faculty staff is commensurate with number of postgraduate students according to the global standard.	184	0	4.0000
The faculty staff at the school has sufficient experiences to deliver the courses in simple way.	179	5	4.0000
Clear criteria are available to evaluate the faculty staff.	184	0	4.0000
Bachelor programs in HI meet the student aspirations	176	8	4.0000
Bachelor programs in HI contribute to achieve the community needs?	184	0	4.0000
Bachelor programs in HI graduated competencies in HI	184	0	4.0000
Internships duration	184	0	3.0000
Internships program improves the students’ skills and competences	181	3	4.0000
Internships programs prepare students to the market	181	3	4.0000
Internships program cover all skills required to get appropriate job in HI	181	3	3.0000
Internships program duration is sufficient for undergraduate level	181	3	5.0000
Internships programs reflect all thought courses in the bachelor’s degree in HI	182	2	4.0000

Table 4 Descriptive Statistics of Faculty Members Responses

Descriptive Statistics Faculty Members
	N		Median
	Valid	Missing
The university has access to most of the data basis and data centres for research	38	0	2.0000
Students benefited from analysis software that provided by the University	38	0	3.0000
All research facilities are available include labs, reading rooms at the library, and wide range wide books at the library.	38	0	4.0000
The university provide printing and data analysis services.	38	0	3.0000
Students benefited from the internet services and research centres that provided by the University.	38	0	4.0000
The school cover all expense required to attend and participation in conferences.	38	0	4.0000
Students are able to access journals and data basis from home.	38	0	4.0000
The most advanced technology are used to deliver the courses.	38	0	3.0000
Bachelor programs in HI encourage to figure the community issues	38	0	4.0000
Faculty members and students are involved in the evaluation of Bachelor programs in HI	38	0	4.0000
Students participate with the academic department to develop the syllabuses at the end of the year	38	0	4.0000
Students concern and Complaints are taken seriously and resolve	38	0	4.0000
The school give their students the opportunity to choose their supervisors and the dissertations topics.	38	0	4.0000
Learning methods relay on a critical thinking approached	38	0	4.0000
Group discussion is a part of the teaching methods in class	38	0	4.0000
Group work is available to produce a group project	38	0	4.0000
Content of bachelor programs in HI considers the students research needs	38	0	4.0000
Syllabuses help to improve students research skills	38	0	4.0000
The content of bachelor programs in HI syllabuses in line with students disciplines	38	0	4.0000
Students benefited from the syllabus in writing the research project	38	0	3.0000
Department provide courses with a consideration of the program needs	38	0	3.0000
Syllabuses help to improve students’ ability for critical thinking	38	0	4.0000
Tests used vary between substantive and editorial	38	0	3.5000
Students asked to prepare a scientific report on curricula topics	38	0	4.0000
Research assistants are available to support the students to provide the required articles and resources	38	0	4.0000
All required information and resources are available to support students in their research.	38	0	4.0000
The period of study in your college is longer than other colleges	38	0	3.0000
There is a balance in the admission between different disciplines	38	0	4.0000
There is typical entry requirement	38	0	4.0000
Faculty staff encourage their students for discussion and critical thinking	38	0	2.0000
Faculty staff always available for advice and guidance.	38	0	4.0000
Students received recommendation and advice from the faculty staff to improve their research.	38	0	4.0000
The school invite specialist faculty staff from outside the University to benefit from their experiences on regular basis	38	0	4.0000
Faculty staff use the most recent journals and articles in their curricula.	38	0	4.0000
The faculty staff present the courses in scientific way which comply with postgraduate courses and their goals.	38	0	3.0000
The faculty staff emphasise on the using multiple sources in their curricula	38	0	4.0000
The faculty staff link the curricula with the reality of the society and culture.	38	0	4.0000
The number of the faculty staff is commensurate with number of postgraduate students according to the global standard.	38	0	4.0000
The faculty staff at the school has sufficient experiences to deliver the courses in simple way.	37	1	4.0000
Clear criteria are available to evaluate the faculty staff.	38	0	4.0000
Bachelor programs in HI meet the student aspirations	38	0	4.0000
Bachelor programs in HI contribute to achieve the community needs?	38	0	4.0000
Bachelor programs in HI graduated competencies in HI	38	0	4.0000
Internships duration	38	0	2.0000
Internships program improves the students’ skills and competences	38	0	5.0000
Internships programs prepare students to the market	38	0	4.0000
Internships program cover all skills required to get appropriate job in HI	38	0	3.5000
Internships program duration is sufficient for undergraduate level	38	0	4.0000
Internships programs reflect all thought courses in the bachelor’s degree in HI	38	0	5.0000

Table 5 Descriptive Statistics (Faculty = 38, Students = 184)

Variables	Participants	Mean	Std. Deviation
Facilities	Faculty	3.11	0.660
	Student	3.29	0.405
Students’ Involvement	Faculty	3.41	0.799
	Student	3.51	0.560
Curriculum	Faculty	3.33	0.549
	Student	3.33	0.501
Research	Faculty	3.55	0.828
	Student	3.51	0.836
Admission	Faculty	3.39	0.945
	Student	3.58	0.776
Roles of Faculty Staff	Faculty	3.43	0.560
	Student	3.35	0.555
Outcome	Faculty	3.64	0.807
	Student	3.79	0.508
Internship Program	Faculty	4.06	0.402
	Student	3.75	0.424

Table 6 Correlations Between Variables

Variables		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Facilities	Faculty	–
	Students
Students’ Involvement	Faculty	0.77**	–
	Students	0.48**
Curriculum	Faculty	0.73**	0.82**	–
	Students	0.36**	0.71**
Research	Faculty	0.58**	0.62**	0.58**	–
	Students	0.46**	0.60**	0.55**
Admission	Faculty	0.04	0.17	0.16	0.61**	–
	Students	0.55**	0.40**	0.34**	0.55**
Roles of Faculty Staff	Faculty	0.49**	0.57**	0.63**	0.62**	0.58**	–
	Students	0.43**	0.57**	0.52**	0.56**	0.45**
Outcome	Faculty	0.43**	0.53**	0.56**	0.41*	0.27	0.81**	–
	Students	0.33**	0.64**	0.69**	0.48**	0.42**	0.71**
Internship Program	Faculty	0.21	0.16	0.14	0.31	0.14	0.15	−0.01	–
	Students	0.15*	0.35**	0.38**	0.33**	0.10	0.45**	0.39**

Notes: **Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). *Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).

Table 7 Comparisons Between Mean Scores of Variables Among Students in Terms of Current Level of Study

		Sum of Squares	df	Mean Square	F	Sig.
Facilities	Between Groups	0.955	5	0.191	1.171	0.325
	Within Groups	29.019	178	0.163
	Total	29.974	183
Students’ Involvement	Between Groups	2.909	5	0.582	1.898	0.097
	Within Groups	54.560	178	0.307
	Total	57.469	183
Curriculum	Between Groups	4.936	5	0.987	4.288	0.001
	Within Groups	40.976	178	0.230
	Total	45.912	183
Research	Between Groups	2.563	5	0.513	0.727	0.604
	Within Groups	125.415	178	0.705
	Total	127.978	183
Admission	Between Groups	3.202	5	0.640	1.065	0.382
	Within Groups	107.075	178	0.602
	Total	110.277	183
Roles of Faculty Staff	Between Groups	0.616	5	0.123	0.393	0.853
	Within Groups	55.763	178	0.313
	Total	56.379	183
Outcome	Between Groups	7.007	5	1.401	6.194	0.000
	Within Groups	40.271	178	0.226
	Total	47.278	183
Internship Program	Between Groups	1.038	5	0.208	1.156	0.333
	Within Groups	31.981	178	0.180
	Total	33.020	183

Table 8 Comparisons Between Mean Scores of Variables Among Students and Faculty Members in Terms of University Names

Variable	(I) Group	(J) Group	Mean Difference (I-J)	Sig.
Students’ Involvement	Hail University	Saudi Electronic University	0.44	0.008
		King Faisal University	0.45	0.013
Curriculum	Qassim University	Saudi Electronic University	0.35	0.022
		King Faisal University	0.38	0.020
	Jazan University	Saudi Electronic University	0.35	0.016
		King Faisal University	0.38	0.015
Roles of Staff	Qassim University	Saudi Electronic University	0.45	0.005
		King Faisal University	0.42	0.019
	Hail University	Saudi Electronic University	0.38	0.025
	Jazan University	Saudi Electronic University	0.35	0.037
Outcome	Qassim University	Saudi Electronic University	0.48	0.000
		King Faisal University	0.49	0.001
	Hail University	Saudi Electronic University	0.40	0.005
		King Faisal University	0.41	0.009
	Jazan University	Saudi Electronic University	0.37	0.008
		King Faisal University	0.38	0.014
Internship Program	Qassim University	King Faisal University	0.39	0.002
	Hail University	King Faisal University	0.43	0.001

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used and analysed in the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.