Patient expectations and their satisfaction in the context of public hospitals

Adugnaw Berhane,1 Fikre Enquselassie2 1College of Health Sciences, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia; 2School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Background: Patient expectations have been recognized as a factor for patient satisfaction in medical consulta...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Berhane A, Enquselassie F
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2016-09-01
Series:Patient Preference and Adherence
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/patient-expectations-and-their-satisfaction-in-the-context-of-public-h-peer-reviewed-article-PPA
_version_ 1818932801066500096
author Berhane A
Enquselassie F
author_facet Berhane A
Enquselassie F
author_sort Berhane A
collection DOAJ
description Adugnaw Berhane,1 Fikre Enquselassie2 1College of Health Sciences, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia; 2School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Background: Patient expectations have been recognized as a factor for patient satisfaction in medical consultations. Although various studies explored the relationship between patient expectations and patient satisfaction in developed countries, there is a lack of research evidence in Ethiopia where the meeting of patient expectations could relate to satisfaction.Objective: To assess the relationship between patients’ expectations and their satisfaction in the consultation of patients at the outpatient department.Study design: Data were collected regarding preconsultation expectations and postconsultation experiences of adult patients attending nine public hospitals. A systematic random sampling method was used where every fifth patient attending an outpatient department was selected. The patients were interviewed before consultation and after consulta­tion to assess whether their pre-consultation expectations were met and to assess how satisfied they were with the consultation. Cronbach’s alpha statistic was used to assess the reliability of the expectation questionnaires, and paired t-test was used to assess any differences between previsit expectations and postvisit experiences. Logistic regression techniques were used to assess variables considered as independent factors for patient satisfaction.Results: A total of 776 patients were interviewed, giving a response rate of 92.3%. About 93.7% mentioned a diagnosis for their condition as a reason for their current hospital visits. There is a significant difference between preconsultation expectation and postconsultation expectation. Postconsultation expectation, perceived health status, and perceived control on health were factors identified as increasing patient satisfaction. In addition, the presence of any disappointments or worries, previous experience in health care, and extent of influence on the consultation had a negative influence on satisfaction.Conclusion: Postconsultation expectation impacts patient satisfaction. Health care service providers should emphasize the actual experience of consultation. Keywords: patient expectation, patient satisfaction, hospital health care, Ethiopia
first_indexed 2024-12-20T04:38:15Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0f8cf412847c4dafb4d861de716b7b56
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1177-889X
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-20T04:38:15Z
publishDate 2016-09-01
publisher Dove Medical Press
record_format Article
series Patient Preference and Adherence
spelling doaj.art-0f8cf412847c4dafb4d861de716b7b562022-12-21T19:53:12ZengDove Medical PressPatient Preference and Adherence1177-889X2016-09-01Volume 101919192829085Patient expectations and their satisfaction in the context of public hospitalsBerhane AEnquselassie FAdugnaw Berhane,1 Fikre Enquselassie2 1College of Health Sciences, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia; 2School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Background: Patient expectations have been recognized as a factor for patient satisfaction in medical consultations. Although various studies explored the relationship between patient expectations and patient satisfaction in developed countries, there is a lack of research evidence in Ethiopia where the meeting of patient expectations could relate to satisfaction.Objective: To assess the relationship between patients’ expectations and their satisfaction in the consultation of patients at the outpatient department.Study design: Data were collected regarding preconsultation expectations and postconsultation experiences of adult patients attending nine public hospitals. A systematic random sampling method was used where every fifth patient attending an outpatient department was selected. The patients were interviewed before consultation and after consulta­tion to assess whether their pre-consultation expectations were met and to assess how satisfied they were with the consultation. Cronbach’s alpha statistic was used to assess the reliability of the expectation questionnaires, and paired t-test was used to assess any differences between previsit expectations and postvisit experiences. Logistic regression techniques were used to assess variables considered as independent factors for patient satisfaction.Results: A total of 776 patients were interviewed, giving a response rate of 92.3%. About 93.7% mentioned a diagnosis for their condition as a reason for their current hospital visits. There is a significant difference between preconsultation expectation and postconsultation expectation. Postconsultation expectation, perceived health status, and perceived control on health were factors identified as increasing patient satisfaction. In addition, the presence of any disappointments or worries, previous experience in health care, and extent of influence on the consultation had a negative influence on satisfaction.Conclusion: Postconsultation expectation impacts patient satisfaction. Health care service providers should emphasize the actual experience of consultation. Keywords: patient expectation, patient satisfaction, hospital health care, Ethiopiahttps://www.dovepress.com/patient-expectations-and-their-satisfaction-in-the-context-of-public-h-peer-reviewed-article-PPAPatient expectationpatient satisfactionhospital health careEthiopia
spellingShingle Berhane A
Enquselassie F
Patient expectations and their satisfaction in the context of public hospitals
Patient Preference and Adherence
Patient expectation
patient satisfaction
hospital health care
Ethiopia
title Patient expectations and their satisfaction in the context of public hospitals
title_full Patient expectations and their satisfaction in the context of public hospitals
title_fullStr Patient expectations and their satisfaction in the context of public hospitals
title_full_unstemmed Patient expectations and their satisfaction in the context of public hospitals
title_short Patient expectations and their satisfaction in the context of public hospitals
title_sort patient expectations and their satisfaction in the context of public hospitals
topic Patient expectation
patient satisfaction
hospital health care
Ethiopia
url https://www.dovepress.com/patient-expectations-and-their-satisfaction-in-the-context-of-public-h-peer-reviewed-article-PPA
work_keys_str_mv AT berhanea patientexpectationsandtheirsatisfactioninthecontextofpublichospitals
AT enquselassief patientexpectationsandtheirsatisfactioninthecontextofpublichospitals