Awareness of Hospital Functioning in General Public Seeking Treatment in Public Sector Hospitals: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: To assess the level of awareness of general public about health care facilities available and the problems faced by them in its utilization. Study design: questionnaire based pospective study. Place and time of study: Department of Surgery and Department of Medical Education, Khawaja Muhammad Safdar Medical College, Sialkot. From April 2018 to August 2018. Methods: almost 500 patients and their attendants visiting opd and indoor of public sector hospitals were included in the study. Questionnaire designed for the study were distributed and were asked to fill it completely. The patients who were illiterate and were unable to fill the questionnaire were given assistance for its completion. Incompletely filled questionnaire were completed by interviewing the subjects. Incompletely filled questionnaires were excluded. The hospital employees were not included. Results: Total number of patients in our study were 75 and number of attendants included in study were 425, out of all these,22 people were having their 1 st visit & 378 people were regular visitors, 43 doctors from administration, 45 treating physicians and 109 individuals from technical staff of the hospital were also included in our study. Querries and reservations made were: Sign markings were known by 36% patients of group I & 47% of Group II , timings of OPD were known to 54% of Group I and 64% of Group II, Availability of staff in emergency department was told by 80% of Group I and Group II people, 53% of Group I & 84% of Group II people said that lab facilities were available, 81% of Group I and 72% of Group II people said that radiology services were present. Conclusion: the education level of the patients and attendants is one hurdle in knowing the facilities available with the hospitals and thence its utilization