لخّصلي

Recently, there has been an increasing occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) worldwide.Assessing nursing competencies remains a challenging endeavor, with limited literature addressing this subject.Saudi Arabia's healthcare system confronts significant challenges due to shifting disease patterns, an aging population, and a shortage of healthcare professionals with only approximately 38% of Saudis making up the total nursing workforce, and the majority of the nursing staff are expatriates from the Philippines and India.T2DM is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Saudi Arabia, resulting in considerable economic and healthcare burdens and that among high-risk patients, lifestyle adjustments involving a better diet, more exercise, and weight loss can stop or delay the onset of T2DM.For instance, in the case of Saudi Arabia, strategies may need to take into account the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the nursing workforce as potentials impacting the overall effectiveness of diabetes prevention and management strategies.The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 463 million persons worldwide had diabetes in 2019; by 2045, this figure is projected to reach 700 million, In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of T2DM among adults is notably high, estimated at 18.3% in 2020 .The escalating rates and underlying causes of medical errors by nurses have emerged as a substantial concern, given their implications for the mortality and disability of numerous individuals annually.Research have shown that nurses' competency in providing health education can significantly impact patients' knowledge, self-management behaviors, and overall health outcomes; moreover, strategies may need to focus on improving nurses' knowledge about the disease, their communication skills, and their ability to provide tailored education to patients.Several studies have highlighted the importance of nursing competency in ensuring patient safety and satisfaction, and in improving health outcomes.Health education has been recognized as a crucial strategy in preventing and managing T2DM, and nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, play a vital role in this process.

Recently, there has been an increasing occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) worldwide. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 463 million persons worldwide had diabetes in 2019; by 2045, this figure is projected to reach 700 million, In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of T2DM among adults is notably high, estimated at 18.3% in 2020 . This represents a significant health burden with serious implications for the healthcare system. Health education has been recognized as a crucial strategy in preventing and managing T2DM, and nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, play a vital role in this process.

      T2DM is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Saudi Arabia, resulting in considerable economic and healthcare burdens and that among high-risk patients, lifestyle adjustments involving a better diet, more exercise, and weight loss can stop or delay the onset of T2DM. As such, health education is a critical component of T2DM prevention programs. Health education empowers patients to better manage their condition and make positive lifestyle changes to improve health outcomes. 



       Nurses are essential in educating patients who are at risk of T2DM about their health. However, research indicates nurses may lack knowledge and skills required to effectively educate patients about T2DM prevention. This is also supported by another literature that also explains the need to assess the competency of nurses in providing health education. Research have shown that nurses' competency in providing health education can significantly impact patients' knowledge, self-management behaviors, and overall health outcomes; moreover, strategies may need to focus on improving nurses' knowledge about the disease, their communication skills, and their ability to provide tailored education to patients. Several studies have highlighted the importance of nursing competency in ensuring patient safety and satisfaction, and in improving health outcomes. Furthermore, the preservation of patient quality care stands as an imperative responsibility for competent nurses. However, achieving a high level of competency requires continuous professional development and the ability to adapt to changing healthcare needs and contexts.

Saudi Arabia's healthcare system confronts significant challenges due to shifting disease patterns, an aging population, and a shortage of healthcare professionals with only approximately 38% of Saudis making up the total nursing workforce, and the majority of the nursing staff are expatriates from the Philippines and India. In light of these challenges, healthcare providers must embody professional competencies adaptable to the evolving healthcare landscape. Nursing, as a distinctive profession, has always grappled with the question of how it can exert a substantial impact on society. Consequently, the focal point on nursing competency becomes imperative, as it has the potential to advance the quality of healthcare services within the nation. At the same vein, some studies have proposed several strategies to improve nursing competency. These include providing ongoing training and education, creating supportive work environments, and implementing competency assessment tools. However, these strategies need to be tailored to the specific needs and contexts of the nurses. For instance, in the case of Saudi Arabia, strategies may need to take into account the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the nursing workforce as potentials impacting the overall effectiveness of diabetes prevention and management strategies.

        Incompetence in nursing can lead to medical errors, negligence, or malpractice, placing patients' lives at risk. The escalating rates and underlying causes of medical errors by nurses have emerged as a substantial concern, given their implications for the mortality and disability of numerous individuals annually. Therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge that inaccuracies, negligence, or malpractices stemming from incompetence can imperil patients' lives. Assessing nursing competencies remains a challenging endeavor, with limited literature addressing this subject. Indeed, there is a need for further research to investigate the competency of staff nurses in providing health education to adults at risk for T2DM. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the competency of staff nurses in providing health education to adults at risk for T2DM in Madinah City, Saudi Arabia.