Health care reform as perceived by nursing staff in selected hospitals

Abstract

Background The Egyptian healthcare system has challenges in order to promote and maintain Egyptian human health and well-being. Healthcare reform is a program to modernize Egypt’s healthcare system, with a goal of shifting the focus of healthcare away from a high reliance on vertical programs, inpatient care, and toward a more integrated, less expensive, quality, universally accessible, and sustainable healthcare system. The aim of this study was to assess healthcare reform as perceived by nursing staff in three selected hospitals. Research design A descriptive comparative research design. Sample A convenience sample of total (N=559) staff nurses classified as the following: n=224 at governmental hospital, n=290 at health insurance hospital, and n=45 at a private hospital at El Gharbia governorate. Results In terms of healthcare reform as perceived by nursing staff, a highly statistically significance difference was found among the three hospitals. In addition, nursing staff at health insurance hospitals had more positive perceptions toward healthcare reform than nursing staff in other hospitals. Recommendations Design workshops and nurses’ training programs on healthcare reform rules, regulations, managerial skills, and duties during the reform process. As healthcare technology progresses, the quality and distribution of resources at practically all levels of care should increase. Finally, new nursing duties should be added to the job description in order for them to be more engaged in the centralized decision throughout healthcare reform.