Assessment of socio-economic status of patients

ABSTRACT

To determine whether or not doctors assess the socio-economic status of their patients in order to customize treatment and improve compliance. A cross-sectional Jinnah Hospital and Shalimar Hospital Lahore. From March to June 2005 Ninety-three patients were included from each of the two randomly selected tertiary care hospitals [one public, one private] of Lahore. Doctor-patient encounters were observed. No assessment was made for 134/186[72%] patients. 51/186[27.4%] received an inadequate assessment. Only 01/186[0.5%] patient received a thorough assessment of his socioeconomic status. Doctors in the private hospital made better effort to assess the socioeconomic background of the patient [albeit inadequately], compared to those in the public hospital [p < 0.0001]. Doctors should be regular and meticulous in patients' socioeconomic status assessment