Patient knowledge survey in a multi-speciality hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20190615Keywords:
Disease, Medication, Smoking, PhysicianAbstract
Background: The objective was to study the knowledge level and awareness among patients those attending a multi-speciality about their diseases and medications.
Methods: A semi-constructed interview was done on 110 adult patients in the General Medicine Department, SRM Medical College, Hospital and Research Center, Kattankulathur, Kanchipuram.
Results: Out of 110 patients. Were 58% was found to be male and 42% was found to be female. The patients' age group ranged from 12-84 years about 29% patients had no education, 30% of the patients were unaware of their diagnosis, 30% were unaware of the causes of their disease, 60% were unaware of the number of medications they were on, 68% did not know the names of their prescribed medication, 70% patients were non-smokers, 90.91% of the patients were aware that smoking was bad for health, 89% of the patients had received enough information from the doctors/nurses regarding their illness and treatment, but 38% of the patients were incapable of understanding their test results.
Conclusions: Majority of the patients were aware of their diseases and the number of medications in spite of two third being illiterate. Thirty-two per cent did not know the causes of their illness and could not name their medications. Patients received little information from the health carers regarding their illness, Interpretation of investigations and aims of treatment. This study indicates that education is one of the main factors which are associated with a well understanding of the disease and medication.
References
Indian guide: population of India, 2015. Available at: http://www.indiaonlinepages.com/population/ india-current-population. Accessed on 3 December 2018.
The national institute transforming India, Government of India, 2015. Available at: http://niti.gov.in/content/literacy-rate-7years. Accessed on 3 December 2018.
Narain JP. Public Health Challenges in India: Seizing the Opportunities. Indian J Community Med. 2016;41(2):85–8.
Garg N, Gupta SK, Mahesh R. Patient Satisfaction Survey at a Tertiary Care Speciality Hospital. Int J Res Foundation Hosp Healthc Adm. 2014;2(2):79-83.
The Definition of Quality and Approaches to Its Assessment. Vol 1. Explorations in Quality Assessment and Monitoring. 1980. Available at: https://psnet.ahrq.gov/resources/resource/1567/the-definition-of-quality-and-approaches-to-its-assessment-vol-1-explorations-in-quality-assessment-and-monitoring. Accessed on 3 December 2018.
Qadri SS, Pathak R, Singh M, Ahluwalia SK, Saini S, Garg PK. An Assessment of Patients Satisfaction with Services Obtained From a Tertiary Care Hospital in Rural Haryana. Int J Collaborative Res Internal Med Public Health. 2012;4:8.
Alam MZ, Aman R, Hafizullah M. Patient awareness survey in a tertiary care hospital. JPMI. 2008;22(04):269-99.
Rajanandh MG, Santosh S, Ramaswamy C. Prospective analysis of poisoning cases in a superspeciality hospital in India. J Pharmacol Toxicol. 2013;8(2):60-6.
Joshi C, Jayasinghe UW, Parker S, Mar CD, Russell G, Lloyd J, et al. Does health literacy affect patients’ receipt of preventative primary care? A multilevel analysis. BMC Family Pract. 2014;15:171.
Huang J, Chiovenda A, Shao Y, Ma H, Li H. Low level of knowledge regarding diagnosis and treatment among inpatients with schizophrenia in Shanghai. Neuropsychiatric Dis Treatment. 2018;14:185–91.
Medication Awareness key to catching error: Study, Science Daily, 2005. Available at: http//www. sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050308093452.html. Accessed on 3 December 2018.
Kljakovic M. Patients and tests: a study into patient understanding of blood tests ordered by their doctor. Aust Fam Physician. 2012;41(4):241-3.
Ashfaq T. Awareness of Hypertension among patients attending Primary Health Care Centre and Outpatient Department of tertiary care hospital of Karachi. J Pak Med Assoc. 2007;57(8).396-9.
Ferguson T. Online patient – helper and physicians working together: a new relationship for high quality health care. Education and Debate. BMJ. 2000;321:1129-30.
Clayton M. Improving illiterate patients understanding and adherence to discharge medications BMJ Quality Improvement Rep. 2012;1:1.
Detmar SB, Muller MJ, Schornagel JH, Wever LD, Aaronson NK. Health-Related Quality-of-Life Assessments and Patient-Physician Communication. A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2002;288:3027-34.
White B. Measuring Patient Satisfaction: How to Do it and Why to Bother. Patient Satisfaction Series. Family Pract Manag. 1999;6(1):40-4.
