title: Health promotion practices as perceived by primary healthcare professionals at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, several research studies have investigated health promotion practices in Saudi healthcare organizations, yet no published literature exists on health promotion practices of primary healthcare professionals working for the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNG-HA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in a convenience sample of 206 primary healthcare professionals at the MNG-HA. A self-reporting questionnaire was used to investigate the attitudes, awareness, satisfaction, and methods regarding health promotion practices of primary healthcare professionals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 206 primary healthcare professionals surveyed, 58.1% reported awareness of health promotion programs conducted in the hospitals and 64.6% reported that the health promotion system in the hospitals needs to be improved. Language barriers and cultural beliefs were viewed as obstacles to carrying out effective health promotion by 65% and 64.6% of primary healthcare professionals, respectively. The majority (79.9%) of the primary healthcare professionals perceived themselves as having the necessary skills to promote health and 80.6% believed that printed educational materials are the most prevalent method of health promotion/education, whereas 55.8% reported that counseling was the most preferred method of health promotion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The awareness level of health promotion policies, strategies, and programs conducted in the hospitals was not found to be satisfactory. Therefore, widespread training programs are recommended to improve the health promotion system in the hospitals. These programs include facilitating behavioral change, introducing health promotion policies and strategies in hospitals, mandatory workshops, and systematic reminders.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Samar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altamimi
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Feda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alshoshan
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ghada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Al Shaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tawfeeq
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alasmary
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Anwar E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ahmed
keywords: Saudi Arabia; health education; health promotion; primary healthcare professionals