Hashmi FK, Malik M, Shahzad A, Wajid A, Zainab J, Malik UR. Prescription understanding among out-patients in government and private hospitals: A cross-sectional study in Lahore, Pakistan.
J Healthc Qual Res 2021;
36:150-155. [PMID:
33640310 DOI:
10.1016/j.jhqr.2020.11.007]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Like many other countries, Pakistan's healthcare system is divided into the public and the private sector. According to some studies and the mindset of many Pakistani people, private hospitals provide better services than government hospitals.
PURPOSE
The paucity of research studies compelled us to compare the understanding of prescription among outpatients of the government and private hospitals since the understanding of prescription by the patient is an important patient care indicator according to WHO.
METHOD
A cross sectional study was conducted by virtue of convenience sampling. The study included 365 patients; 182 from the government sector and 183 from the private sector. The study was conducted over a period of 3 months. A structured questionnaire was prepared to gather data that was analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0.
RESULTS
Patients from both government and private hospitals got no counseling while only 45.9% of the government hospital patients and 65.9% of private hospital patients were satisfied with the counseling they received. Our study concluded that the role of a pharmacist must be extended besides dispensing only, in counseling and educating patients to reduce the burden on the physicians and hospitals as well.
CONCLUSION
It was concluded that although the patients of private hospitals scored somewhat better at answering the questions than the government hospital patients but they failed to hit the benchmark. Their slightly better results were attributed to higher education levels and better socioeconomic status rather than better services of the hospital.
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