Patient satisfaction among attendance of out-patient clinics of different clinical departments at Alexandria main university hospital

Measurement of patients satisfaction has clearly become an increasingly important activity for any health care facility as its results can have great impact on the health care organization, its staff and its consumers. The present study was carried out to assess patient satisfaction in medical care received in out-patient clinics of different departments at Alexandria Main University Hospital. A descriptive cross section survey was carried out among out-patient attendance in the hospital. 258 patients from different out-patient clinics attending two shift periods were included .Data were collected by the investigator from patients using a specially designed questionnaire [Short form patient satisfaction questionnaire PSQ-18]. The PSQ 18 yields separate scores for each of seven different subscales: general satisfaction [2 items], Technical Quality [4 items], Interpersonal Manner [2 items], Communication [2 items], Financial Aspects [2 items], Time spent with doctor [2 items], Accessibility and Convenience [4 items]. Five point Likert scale with the corresponding scores was used for each item. The over-all satisfaction score was borderline [2.96]. The highest overall score was observed in the time spent with doctor score while the least was in accessibility and convenience with the services scale [2.5]. The most satisfied age group was those above 60 years with significant statistical difference between different age groups [P=0.011]. The type of work significantly affect the general satisfaction scale with the services provided [P<0.001] non-workers was the least satisfied group. Patients attending special surgery departments were the most satisfied patients [over all score=3.0] with statistical significance difference between them and patients attending other departments [P<0.001]. As regard technical quality, there is significant difference between different educational levels [p=0.002]. The illiterate patients were more satisfied with the technical quality in the out-patient clinics than patients received basic education and the difference is statistically significant [P=0,001]. About satisfaction with physicians communication, there is statistical significance between the educational level and satisfaction of physician's communication [p=0.001]. Illiterate and those just read and write experience the lowest communication satisfaction with physicians. Satisfaction with physicians communication was, statistically significant between the reference group and those received basic education [P=0.001]. Patients attending special internal medicine out-patient clinics complained of low accessibility and convenience with services provided. There was significant statistical difference between general surgery and minor surgery patients and special surgery patients. [P=0.025]. It was concluded that patients were borderline in overall satisfiction with medical care services provided in the out-patients clinics. Physicians have to improve their communication skills

Analyzing the knowledge and attitude of nurses regarding medication error and its prophylactic ways in educational and therapeutic hospitals of Khorramabad

Medication errors are the most common avoidable causes of iatrogenic injuries in patients. One out of every three medication errors occurs when a nurse prescribes drug to a patient. Since medication instructions are among the most important parts in the patient's treatment process, their inappropriate application can lead to many serious consequences such as incomplete or incorrect therapy, as well as legal problems. The present study was carried out to verify the knowledge and attitude of nurses regarding medication error, and its prophylactic ways in educational and therapeutic hospitals of Khorramabad in 2005. The samples of this descriptive cross-sectional study included 85 randomly selected nurses who worked in educational and therapeutic hospitals of Khorramabad in 2005. Data collection instruments were a questionnaire and the structured interview. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software [version13], Chi-square and descriptive statistic test. Analyzing the data indicated that the nurses stated the most important causes of medication errors as follows: inadequate number of nurses[100%], night and repeated long shifts [83.7%], personal problems of the nurses [79%], presence of the patients' attendants and crowded wards [79%], and inappropriate environmental conditions of the wards [73.3%]. Fear of receiving reprimands and punishment [88.45], triviality of errors [57%], and unsupportive attitude of the nursing officials [50%] were the most frequently cited reasons for not reporting the medication errors. Moreover, adequate nurse to patient ratio [98.8%], staff continuing education [96.5%], and adequate information about medications [69.8%] were reported as the most important ways to prevent medication errors. Also 62.8% of the cases had moderate knowledge regarding medication error and its prophylactic ways. The data analysis showed that from the nurses' viewpoints, some interventions including increasing adequate nurse to patient ratio, improving environmental conditions of work, reducing environmental distractions such as interruptions and stressors, increasing staffs' information about medications, increasing the role of clinical pharmacologists, creating medication error reporting systems, supportive attitude of nursing officials, focusing on causes of errors, and improving controlling and supervising systems can have remarkable effects on reducing medication errors. Moreover, both individual and systems have to be taken into consideration when rules and regulation concerning medication error reporting and prevention are made

Impact of schistosomiasis on quality of life and productivity of workers

The effect of schistosomiasis on quality of life [QOL] and productivity of workers was examined. In a textile factory in Alexandria, Egypt, personal, occupational and sociodemographic data were collected from 172 workers with schistosomiasis and 172 workers without schistosomiasis. Several indicators of productivity and the World Health Organization QOL brief were used to determine the impact of schistosomiasis. The disease affected the general, physical and independence, psychological and spiritual, and social domains of QOL. Although the productivity score of workers with schistosomiasis did not differ significantly from the control group, they had significantly lower additional hours of work and lower total incentives/month. A significant relationship was found between severity of schistosomiasis and QOL domains and productivity indicators