Quality, Patient Experience, and Service Gaps in Home Healthcare in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review Aligned with Vision 2030.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the quality of home healthcare (HHC) services, patient experience, and existing service gaps in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) statement. PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between January 2011 and January 2025. Eligible studies included observational, qualitative, mixed-methods, and interventional studies conducted in Saudi Arabia that examined home healthcare quality, patient or caregiver experience, or service delivery gaps. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality using the Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies (QuADS) tool. Disagreements were resolved by discussion and consensus. Because of heterogeneity in study designs, populations, and outcomes, findings were synthesized narratively.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, patient satisfaction levels were consistently high, particularly regarding provider communication and professional competence. Several specialized home-based programs demonstrated reduced hospital utilization and improved patient-reported outcomes. Nevertheless, recurring system-level concerns were identified, including limitations in service coordination, financial coverage, workforce support, and multidisciplinary availability.

CONCLUSION

Home healthcare in Saudi Arabia demonstrates encouraging patient-centered and clinical outcomes, but important structural and operational deficiencies remain. Strengthening workforce capacity, financing mechanisms, coordination systems, digital health integration, and quality measurement is essential to support the expansion of home healthcare and align service delivery with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.