The Role of Evidence-Based Management in Driving Sustainable Innovation in Saudi Arabian Healthcare Systems

Alia Mohammed Almoajel ()
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Alia Mohammed Almoajel: Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-23

Abstract: Nowadays, evidence-based management (EBM) plays an important role in bringing sustainability into the decision-making process in the healthcare industry. The present study examines how evidence-based management affects the strategic decision criteria for the cost efficiency, equity, and accessibility of medical services in Saudi Arabia. A mixed-methods approach used hybrid surveys, interactive focus groups, digital ethnography, and experience sampling methods to collect data from healthcare managers, policymakers, and stakeholders. Structural equation modeling (SEM), latent semantic analysis (LSA), XGBoost models, and dynamic network analysis (DNA), among others, were used to provide robust insights about the system. The results showed a 25 percent increase in cost efficiency, a 20 percent improvement in inequitable resource allocation, and a 15 percent improvement in accessibility with evidence-based management adoption. According to the XGBoost models, streamlined resource management explains 30% of the variation in cost efficiency, and data-driven decision-making practices explain 35% of the variance in equity performance. After EBM implementation, collaborative efforts among stakeholders increased by 40%, as determined by DNA analysis. In addition, time-series analysis revealed a 22% reduction in operational delays, improving service delivery. These results suggest that evidence-based management is an important opportunity to ‘bend the curve’ of patient care, driving healthcare sustainability by optimizing resource use, equity, and accessibility. The contributions of this research to the broader discourse on sustainable healthcare management lie in its proven actionable insights and scalable framework for evidence-based management practices. The integration of advanced analytics underlines its relevance for global healthcare systems to attain long-term efficiency and sustainability.

Keywords: evidence-based management; strategic decision-making; medical services; Saudi Arabia; sustainability; health management; sustainable innovation; health economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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