TITLE:
Quality Assurance in Wound Management in a Developing Country: How Satisfied Are Our Patients?
AUTHORS:
Pius Agbenorku
KEYWORDS:
Quality Assurance; Patient Satisfaction; Wound Management; Health Resources
JOURNAL NAME:
Surgical Science,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
25,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Background: Quality is important in every setting especially in the health service where the needs of patients should be an utmost priority. However, this is sometimes not the situation in most health care centres due to increasing stress because of inadequate resources and increasing demands for services. This present study seeks to assess quality assurance in the management of wounds. Method: A descriptive survey involving 280 participants; data was collected using structured questionnaire. The questionnaires included some quality indicators which were used to assess the quality of care patients received from the health facility. Results: Out of the 280 participants, females were 57.1% (n = 160) and males, 42.9% (n = 120). Ages of the participants ranged from 15 - 70+ years with a mean age of 35.8 ± 1.5; 28.6% (n = 80) of staff had an excellent attitude while 5.7% (n = 16) had a fair attitude. The condition of 112 did not require surgery (40.0%), however, out of the 168 who underwent surgery, 32 (19.0%) were not satisfied while 136 (81.0%) were satisfied. Also, 97.1% (n = 272) were accorded privacy, 51.4% (n = 144) were assured of confidentiality, 48.6% (n = 136) were educated on diagnoses and treatment, 91.4% (n = 256) understood pharmacy instruction, 57.1% (n = 160) were satisfied with time spent in the facility, 97.1% (n = 272) were not shun by nurses because of their wounds. Conclusion: Patient satisfaction should be the priority of all persons working in the health facility. In accessing quality service, patient satisfaction can be met if quality assurance measures are put in place. This quality assurance measures should include all units of the health delivery system since it would help to ensure judicious use of resources in order to meet the health needs of patients.