Comparison of the health-promoting orientation of three tertiary care hospitals of India.

ABSTRACT

Background. Hospitals have been considered as places for the provision of curative services. Nowadays, services related to health promotion are also sought to be provided through hospitals. We compared the health-promoting hospital (HPH) orientation of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh with two other tertiary care hospitals in India, which have been declared HPH by WHO. Methods. The score obtained by PGIMER as an HPH as per the WHO standards tool was compared with that of two other tertiary care hospitals in India. A short survey was also conducted of patients visiting PGIMER for their treatment through a selfadministered, pretested questionnaire. A statistical test for difference in proportions was applied. A SWOT analysis was done to assess how PGIMER performed as an HPH. Results. The HPH score of PGIMER was significantly lower (35/80) than that of the other two hospitals. There was no formal HPH policy in PGIMER. One-third of the patients interviewed were not satisfied with the overall preventive and health-promoting services of PGIMER. Apart from the parameters of the HPH standards, PGIMER seemed to satisfy the expectations from it being an apex medical institute. Conclusion. In view of its low score as an HPH, PGIMER should frame an appropriate HPH policy and devise strategies to provide leadership to other hospitals in India.