zimam

The scientific methodology on which Zimam is built

Zimam recommendations were built through a structured approach that combined local expertise with international best practices. Our methodology encompassed several key stages to ensure the highest quality of preventive care recommendations.

Evidence Foundation

Our process began with the Saudi Public Health Authority’s preventive guidelines as our primary reference framework. We enhanced these guidelines through systematic review of recommendations from leading international organizations:

  • U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
  • Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
  • Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC)

We focused on high-grade recommendations (Grade A and B) that complemented our local guidelines without contradiction. Each recommendation underwent evaluation against defined inclusion criteria addressing evidence quality, population health impact, and implementation feasibility.

Local Context Integration

We analyzed our recommendations within the Saudi healthcare context through:

  • Comprehensive review of Ministry of Health clinical guidelines and programs
  • Detailed analysis of health insurance policies and coverage
  • Systematic assessment of service availability in the healthcare system
  • Careful adaptation of recommendations to local cultural considerations

Algorithm Development

We developed a deterministic, rules-based algorithm through:

  • Systematic identification of key health modifiers
  • Creation of filtering logic for each recommendation
  • Development of stratification based on demographic and health factors
  • Rigorous testing with diverse user scenarios
  • Validation through clinical expertise

These algorithms were designed to process multiple variables simultaneously, including:

  • Age-specific considerations
  • Gender-specific health factors
  • Health conditions affecting recommendations
  • Personal risk factors

Quality Assurance

Each recommendation underwent:

  • Content validation for evidence interpretation
  • Clinical review by relevant specialists
  • Verification of healthcare system integration
  • Documentation of all feedback and modifications

This systematic approach ensured that Zimam provides evidence-based, locally relevant, and personally tailored preventive recommendations that can be practically implemented within the Saudi healthcare system.

For a more detailed explanation of our methodology and development process, you can access the Zimam development document.