Factors determining patient satisfaction during healthcare delivery in Limpopo, South Africa.
Marubini Y Rambuwane, Lebogang L Molefe, Lucky O Letswalo
PMID 41925586WHAT IT FOUND
Patients reported dissatisfaction with long outpatient waits, dirty linen and environmental hygiene.
Inpatients also reported less agreement that nurses sat and talked with them or explained their condition.
Key findings
01Thirty-four percent of respondents were dissatisfied with the service. They cited dirty hospital linen and long Out Patient Department waiting times.
02Sixty-eight percent of outpatients and 49% of inpatients agreed that nurses sit and talk to patients.
03Seventy-six percent of inpatients reported dissatisfaction with long waiting times to see a doctor, compared with 24% of outpatients.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in one district hospital in Limpopo, and the authors state the findings cannot be projected to other hospitals in the country. Patients in the emergency room and operating room were excluded, so their experiences are not captured. The paper gives inconsistent group counts: 240 outpatients and 80 inpatients in one section, but 160 inpatients and 160 outpatients in another. The design described is a descriptive survey, not a tested intervention, so it cannot show that any factor change will improve satisfaction.
Declared interests
The study was funded by Sefako Makgatho Health Science University.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that waiting time or nurse communication changes will raise satisfaction. The study measured patients' reported experiences at one hospital and did not test any intervention.