KNOWLEDGE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT AMONG DOCTORS FROM GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTORS OF UNION TERRITORY, CHANDIGARH

Abstract

<p><strong>CONTEXT:</strong> Enough literature is not available on knowledge of the doctors regarding Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Lack of awareness of the treating doctors may make the entire hierarchy in the medical organization liable to the implications due to vicarious liabilities. <strong>AIM:</strong> A study was planned to benchmark the existing level of doctors’ knowledge regarding CPA in selected public and private sector medical organizations in Chandigarh. <strong>SETTING AND DESIGN:</strong> Hospital-based cross-sectional study. <strong>MATERIALS AND METHODS:</strong> A total of 440 doctors working in various government and private hospitals of Chandigarh were given a pretested self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 35 closed-ended questions of which 25 questions were for knowledge assessment and 10 questions were for assessing the perceptions of the doctors on the implications of the act. <strong>STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:</strong> All the 25 knowledge questions were scored. Data analysis was done to describe the sub-group mean scores in univariate and multivariate analysis. <strong>RESULTS:</strong> The mean knowledge score of the respondents was 15.83 (range 4-24). It was 63.3% of the total achievable score. On multivariate analysis, keeping institution, designation, educational qualification, and sex as predictors in the model, private institution, associate professors, assistant professors, and medical officers scored significantly better independently than the others in the model. Some important observations with respect to perceptions of the doctors about implications of the act have been described in the paper. <strong>CONCLUSIONS:</strong> Knowledge of doctors about many aspects of CPA is not satisfactory. Practicing government and private doctors have better knowledge than the academicians. Regular planned teaching and training programs are required to keep the doctors updated about CPA.</p>