ABSTRACT
Background: Patient satisfaction is an important indicator to measure the quality of healthcare services and plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of health service delivery. The aim of the study was to assess the patient’s satisfaction level with the quality of health care delivered at the mobile medical clinics (MMC) in two districts of north Bengal, India. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done using a purposive sampling method, and total of 294 samples were recruited. A questionnaire (PSQ-18) was used to assess the patient satisfaction level. Chi-square tests were used for categorical variables. F-test and t-test were used for mean differences between the variables. Linear regression analysis was done to examine the linear effect of social factors on patient satisfaction. Results: The present study shows that overall satisfaction was 74.04%, with a mean value of 3.702. In the Jalpaiguri district, 27.5% of patients are highly satisfied, whereas 17.0% are in Alipurduar. Alipurduar district has a higher low satisfaction rating (39.7%) than Jalpaiguri district (19.7%), and a district-wise significant association was found (p<0.001). Overall satisfaction level effects by occupation (p<0.001), population and socio economic status (p<0.05). Conclusions: Policymakers may consider that MMCs could be an effective strategy to improve primary health care in remote, underserved areas where there are no public health care facilities.
ABSTRACT
Background: Cancer diagnosis is known to cause significant mental distress and anxiety. Psychologically distressed patients are less compliant to treatments and endure longer hospitalization. Assessment of distress is critical to develop necessary interventions. Our research aims to assess the severity, contributing factors, and relationships between socio-demographic characteristics and psychological distress in cancer patients. Methods: A cross sectional study with random sample of 188 cancer patients were assessed for distress with NCCN distress thermometer (DT) from a tertiary care facility. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square test performed using SPSS-28. Results: 75% reported "moderate and above" distress levels, with a mean distress of 5.5±2.99. Respondents below 40 years, females, currently unmarried, nuclear families, highly educated, and financially dependent were more likely to experience severe distress (score 8-10). Significant emotional concerns were associated with severe distress, followed by practical problems. Conclusions: Distress can be routinely screened with a simple visual analogue scale like DT. A severely distress patient had 3 or more physical, practical, emotional and 2 or more social and spiritual concerns and a person with mild distress had just one emotional concern and spiritual concern and none of the other three. Early identification, routine screening and psychosocial support can reduce distress with optimal efficacy.