Patient expectation and satisfaction in different hospitals in Irbid, Jordan.

OBJECTIVE: This study attempts to identify factors contributing to patients' satisfaction and to examine the relationship between patient satisfaction and patient expectations. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 360 patients randomly drawn from the outpatients' practice of 2 health centers in Irbid, North Jordan; a university and governmental one. Patients' satisfaction was assessed using a self-administered patient satisfaction questionnaire. Patients' expectations were assessed by exposing patients to a series of video clips showing pre-tested patient provider encounters. RESULTS: On average, users of the Community Health Center had lower expectation levels and higher satisfaction means when compared to users of the University Health Center. The study results showed that patient satisfaction was mainly influenced by patient expectation of received care even after adjustment for socio-demographic variables. CONCLUSION: This study therefore, argues that while assessment of patient satisfaction is useful as a monitoring indicator for overall health care delivery performance, still interventions are required to improve the delivered care. There is a need to examine client expectations and tailor services accordingly since satisfaction measures can only diagnose a problem while expectation assessment can identify clients needs and thus program managers can better design health services delivery.

The magnitude of osteoporosis in middle aged women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to increase the body of knowledge regarding osteoporosis in the Jordanian context by investigating the magnitude of osteoporosis amongst perimenopausal women, as well as the risk factors associated with the disease. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty one women between the ages of 40 to 60 years were randomly selected from the Orthopedics and Rheumatology out patient clinics at the Major Teaching Hospital in Amman, Jordan. A structured questionnaire, which focused upon risk factors and preventive measures for osteoporosis, was administered by a trained staff nurse to all women. Index women were then referred to a private hospital, also in Amman, for a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar spine (Lumbar 1-4) and hip. RESULTS: Results show the magnitude of osteoporosis was 13% according to the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine. Women with osteoporosis were older (p< 0.00) and smaller in build (p<0.00) than women with low or normal bone density. Osteoporotic women were also more likely to be menopausal (p<0.00) and to have taken corticosteroids for a prolonged period of time (p<0.00). Logistic regression showed being menopausal (p<0.00), taking corticosteroids (p<0.05), and having a relatively lower body mass index (p<0.00) were significantly related to being osteoporotic in this group of women. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that this study was not only able to report upon the magnitude of osteoporosis among women sampled, and the risk factors for low bone density, but also raised issues related to inconsistencies in how the health care system deals with women who are at risk for osteoporosis. Study findings are discussed in their socio-cultural context, and implications of the study findings are presented.