Patient satisfaction regarding service delivery at a hospital in Botswana

Abstract

Background:Patient satisfaction is an important means of measuring the effectiveness of health care delivery and medical care. Patient satisfaction provides a picture of the extent to which the general health care needs of the patient provided by health care professionals are met to the satisfaction of the patient. Administration of patient satisfaction surveys provide an opportunity to identify and resolve potential problems before they become serious. Enhancing quality of service delivery in public health facilities is a prerequisite for the increased utilisation and sustainability of health care services to the population. The aim of the study was to investigate the level of patient satisfaction regarding service delivery provided by the doctors and nurses at a hospital in Botswana. Purpose:The study’s aim was to investigate the level of patient satisfaction regarding service delivery at a hospital in Botswana. Methods:Aquantitative approach using a self-administered structured questionnaire to collect data regarding patient satisfaction regarding service delivery at hospital was used.A consecutive sampling technique was used to select patients who fulfilled the study’s inclusion criteria. A sample size of 360 patients was required for the study, which was calculated based on the Taro Yamane formula. Data was analysed using SPSS version V.21.0. Results:The mean age of the outpatients was 38.5(SD ±15.6) years while,for the inpatients, the mean agewas 33.3(SD±12.4) years. The greater proportion of respondents in both groups was females. Nearly half (47%) of the outpatients were employed, whereas more than half (53%) of the inpatients were unemployed. The majority of the participants had a low level of education. The mean satisfaction level was 58.9 (SD±7.9)for outpatients, while for in patients, the mean satisfaction level was 70.3 (SD±12.5). A large proportion (65%) of the outpatients were satisfied compared to the inpatients (54%), however, the results were not statistically significant (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant relationship between the age, gender, employment status, level of education of the outpatients and their level of satisfaction. For inpatient variables, age, gender, and level of education were not associated with level of satisfaction (p>0.05). Conclusion: Inconclusion, regardless of the fact that certain aspects of care provided a t this hospital were unsatisfactory, the results of the present study revealed that, overall,more than half of the patients were satisfied with the inpatients and outpatient aspects of the xiv care they were provided.