Estimation of patient perception on hygiene standards in a tertiary care hospital, West Bengal: A questionnaire-based study

ABSTRACT

Background: Maintenance of hygiene is very important to lead a healthy, disease-free life. Lack of hygiene increases the chance of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Wastes generated by the hospitals increase the chance of nosocomial infections. Objective: The present study deals with the patient’s perception about hygiene and sanitation rendered by the hospitals. Materials and Methods: The present study was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey. The data were collected from the indoor patients admitted in the Department of Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and General Medicine during December 2016–January 2017 at a Medical College in Kolkata. Results: In the present study, a total of 150 patients were taken as study population, of which majority of them were female. The major age group of the study population was 32–39 years, 33 (22%). In the present study, 93.33% of patients responded that the food was hygienic, 90% of patients opined that all housekeeping staffs used their protective equipment while they were collecting the garbage in this hospital, and 78% of patients agreed that the dustbins were cleaned regularly. Conclusion: In order to improve patients’ compliance and reduce the sufferings, evaluation of to hospital hygiene is of utmost importance. Awareness programs should be implemented in hospitals and health-care centers about the importance and maintenance of hygiene. This would reduce the chances of hospital-borne infections not only for the patients but also for the hospital workers.