Awareness and Readiness of Healthcare Workers Regarding National Transformation Program in the Health Sector in Tabuk Region, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: The National Transformation Program is a program that aims to develop the necessary infrastructure and create an environment that enables the public, private, and non-profit sectors to achieve Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess the awareness and readiness of healthcare workers regarding the National Transformation Program in the health sector of Tabuk region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study among healthcare workers in Tabuk region using a “Google Form” based questionnaire. We sent the web link to all (100%) employees’ official email addresses through the Information Technology department’s internal communication system. The study included only those who completed the “Google Form” with the required data. The “Google Form” inquired about the respondents’ background characteristics, awareness regarding the National Transformation Program, and readiness for the transformation process. We analyzed the data with SPSS 16.0 for Windows and OpenEpi version 3.01. Results: Of 492 respondents, all (100%) had heard of the program and nearly three-quarters (71.5%) knew its strategic objectives, mainly through social media (72.4%). However, only about half of the respondents (49%) had a clear understanding of the institutional transformation process and the new model of care in the health sector. The main concern of the respondents was job security (41.1%), while the majority of them felt they were part of the program (89.9%) and supported it (92.2%). Their readiness for the transformation process was significantly higher (p < 0.05) among women and physicians than among men and other healthcare workers. Conclusion: Despite having a high level of awareness regarding the National Transformation Program in the health sector, some healthcare workers lacked a clear understanding of the institutional transformation process and the new model of care in the health sector. It is essential to address the expectations and concerns of different groups of healthcare workers to ensure their engagement and commitment to the program.