Awareness of Nursing Staff and Patients Regarding Hospitals Accreditation

Abstract

Hospital accreditation is considered as an intervention performed to support patient safety and ensure high quality healthcare. Purpose: To assess the level of awareness of nursing staff and patients regarding hospital accreditation and determine the differences between the nursing staff awareness and patientsꞌ awareness regarding hospital accreditation. Design: Descriptive comparative design was utilized in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at ICU, surgical and medical departments at Menoufia University Hospitals, Shebin E Kom Teaching Hospital, National liver Institute and El Helal hospital. Sampling: A simple random sample of 448 staff nurses, 52 head nurses and 221 patients were included to participate in the study .Instruments: Nursing staff awareness and patientsꞌ awareness questionnaire. Results: the nursing staff had a moderate level of perception regarding hospital accreditation in El Helal Governmental hospital (81%) and in National Liver Hospital (NLI)(60.4%), On the other hand, nursing staff in Shebin El-kom Teaching Hospital (STH) and Menoufia University Hospitals(MUH) had a low level of perception . The nursing staff in all hospitals had not satisfied knowledge level and low level of awareness about hospital accreditation. Also, Patients in El Helal hospital had higher level of awareness and perception concerning than patients in Menoufia University hospital, Shebin El- Kom Teaching hospital and National Liver Institute. El Helal patients had satisfied level of knowledge of hospital accreditation, while patients in National Liver Hospital (NLI), Shebin El-Kom Teaching Hospital (STH) and Menoufia University Hospitals (MUH) had not satisfied level of knowledge in hospital accreditation. Conclusion: In the light of the present study results, the studied sample of the nursing staff had moderate level of perception of hospital accreditation in El Helal Governmental hospital and in National Liver Hospital (NLI).On the other hand, nursing staff in Shebin El-kom Teaching Hospital (STH) and Menoufia University Hospitals (MUH) had low level of perception and awareness of hospital accreditation. The patients in El Helal Governmental hospital had a moderate level of awareness, while patients in National Liver Hospital, Shebin El-Kom Teaching Hospital and Menoufia University Hospitals had a low level of awareness regarding hospital accreditation. Recommendations: Healthcare organizations should develop awareness regarding hospital accreditation among nurses by integrating this concept into its core values and strategic management.