Time-management challenges among allied health professionals at atertiary hospital in riyadh city

Objective: Time management (TM) is important for allied health professionals (AHPs), as it affects patient safety and the quality of provided services. This study was conducted to identify obstacles to the ability of AHPs to manage their time effectively and to determine the tools they use to organize their work. Methodology: A descriptive quantitative design study design was used and a convenience sample of 297 AHPs at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh was studied. A total of 251 self-administered questionnaires were returned, which represented a response rate of 84.5%. Result: The questionnaire included 5 items on demographic characteristics, 22 items on the obstacles to effective TM, and seven items regarding the tools used to organize work time. The majority of participants were male (63.3%), 29.1% were aged 26–30 years, 29.5% had a bachelor’s degree, 49% had more than 7 years of experience, and 76.9% were in subordinate positions. Conclusion: This study identified 22 obstacles to the ability of AHPs to organize their time; the primary ones were poorly organized work, and undefined goals and priorities. On the other hand, the most common tools for managing time effectively were through emails and mobile phones.