Development and Validation of the Saudi Long-Term Care Admission Criteria (S-LTCAC): A Retrospective Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59992/IJSR.2026.v5n10p6Keywords:
Long-Term Care, Health Sector Transformation Program, Vision 2030, Patient Eligibility for AdmissionAbstract
Background: The rising demand for long-term care (LTC) in Saudi Arabia, driven by population aging and the Health Sector Transformation Program aligned with Vision 2030, necessitates standardized admission criteria. This study aimed to develop and validate the Saudi Long-Term Care Admission Criteria (S-LTCAC) for assessing patient eligibility for admission to LTC hospitals.
Methods: A retrospective study included [300] patients referred to a Saudi LTC hospital. The S-LTCAC comprises four domains: mobility, nutrition, activities of daily living (ADLs), and co-morbidities. A pre-specified cut-off of ≥25 points was adopted. Discriminative validity was assessed via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and reliability via Cronbach's alpha and Cohen's kappa.
Results: The mean age was 65.4 ± 12.3 years, and 58% were male. The mean total score was 22.5 ± 6.2. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.81–0.91; p < 0.001). At the pre-specified cut-off of ≥25 points, sensitivity was 80%, specificity was 76%, PPV was 79%, and NPV was 77%. Cronbach's alpha was 0.78, and Cohen's kappa was 0.82.
Conclusion: The S-LTCAC is a valid and reliable Saudi-specific tool for LTC admission. It supports national efforts to standardize admission decisions and optimize resource allocation within the Saudi healthcare system.
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