Impact of socioeconomic status on patient experience on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in tertiary hospitals in Southeast Nigeria
Abstract Background To determine how socioeconomic factors, such as level of education and employment status, affect patient experiences on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in teaching hospitals in southeast Nigeria. Methods The study is of a cross-sectional design and exit poll wa...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2020-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-05332-0 |
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| author | Henry E. Aloh Obinna E. Onwujekwe Obianuju G. Aloh Ijeoma L. Okoronkwo Chijioke Joel Nweke |
| author_facet | Henry E. Aloh Obinna E. Onwujekwe Obianuju G. Aloh Ijeoma L. Okoronkwo Chijioke Joel Nweke |
| author_sort | Henry E. Aloh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background To determine how socioeconomic factors, such as level of education and employment status, affect patient experiences on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in teaching hospitals in southeast Nigeria. Methods The study is of a cross-sectional design and exit poll was used to collect its data. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was administered to clients accessing care in the outpatient departments of three tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. The assessment of patient experiences for quality of care was based on five (5) domains of care: waiting time; environment of the outpatient department; quality of doctor’s care; quality of care by nurses/other health workers; and responsiveness of care. In addition, the overall quality of care was assessed. Results The mean rating of patient experience for quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services (outpatients’ care) was 74.31 ± 0.32%. Moderate differences were observed between the hospitals assessed for various levels of patients’ care, especially for waiting time, quality of doctors’ care and overall quality of care. Employment status was a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) determinant of overall patient experience rating for quality of care, while the level of patient’s education was an influence on the perception of waiting by the patients and their rating of care from nurses/other healthcare providers (apart from medical doctors). Conclusion The study showed that educational and employment status (measures of socioeconomic status) of patients determined how patients receiving ambulatory (outpatient) healthcare services perceived the quality of care in the hospitals. Hence, in order to ensure equity, there is need to institutionalize patient-centered care, while full consideration is given to the patients’ socioeconomic status. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:15:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1ed7b44367e944c0a758ef195685f4d1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:15:01Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-1ed7b44367e944c0a758ef195685f4d12022-12-22T00:55:26ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632020-05-012011910.1186/s12913-020-05332-0Impact of socioeconomic status on patient experience on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in tertiary hospitals in Southeast NigeriaHenry E. Aloh0Obinna E. Onwujekwe1Obianuju G. Aloh2Ijeoma L. Okoronkwo3Chijioke Joel Nweke4Health Economics and Policy Research Unit, Department of Health Services, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike IkwoDepartment of Health Administration & Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of NigeriaPrimary Health Development Agency, Ministry of HealthDepartment of Health Administration & Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of NigeriaDepartment of Mathematics/Computer Sciences/Statistics & Informatics, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike IkwoAbstract Background To determine how socioeconomic factors, such as level of education and employment status, affect patient experiences on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in teaching hospitals in southeast Nigeria. Methods The study is of a cross-sectional design and exit poll was used to collect its data. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was administered to clients accessing care in the outpatient departments of three tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. The assessment of patient experiences for quality of care was based on five (5) domains of care: waiting time; environment of the outpatient department; quality of doctor’s care; quality of care by nurses/other health workers; and responsiveness of care. In addition, the overall quality of care was assessed. Results The mean rating of patient experience for quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services (outpatients’ care) was 74.31 ± 0.32%. Moderate differences were observed between the hospitals assessed for various levels of patients’ care, especially for waiting time, quality of doctors’ care and overall quality of care. Employment status was a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) determinant of overall patient experience rating for quality of care, while the level of patient’s education was an influence on the perception of waiting by the patients and their rating of care from nurses/other healthcare providers (apart from medical doctors). Conclusion The study showed that educational and employment status (measures of socioeconomic status) of patients determined how patients receiving ambulatory (outpatient) healthcare services perceived the quality of care in the hospitals. Hence, in order to ensure equity, there is need to institutionalize patient-centered care, while full consideration is given to the patients’ socioeconomic status.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-05332-0Quality of carePatient experienceSocioeconomic statusHospitalsNigeria |
| spellingShingle | Henry E. Aloh Obinna E. Onwujekwe Obianuju G. Aloh Ijeoma L. Okoronkwo Chijioke Joel Nweke Impact of socioeconomic status on patient experience on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in tertiary hospitals in Southeast Nigeria BMC Health Services Research Quality of care Patient experience Socioeconomic status Hospitals Nigeria |
| title | Impact of socioeconomic status on patient experience on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in tertiary hospitals in Southeast Nigeria |
| title_full | Impact of socioeconomic status on patient experience on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in tertiary hospitals in Southeast Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Impact of socioeconomic status on patient experience on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in tertiary hospitals in Southeast Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of socioeconomic status on patient experience on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in tertiary hospitals in Southeast Nigeria |
| title_short | Impact of socioeconomic status on patient experience on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in tertiary hospitals in Southeast Nigeria |
| title_sort | impact of socioeconomic status on patient experience on quality of care for ambulatory healthcare services in tertiary hospitals in southeast nigeria |
| topic | Quality of care Patient experience Socioeconomic status Hospitals Nigeria |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-05332-0 |
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