Observance of patients’ rights in emergency department of educational hospitals in south-east Iran

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Purpose Patient right is the most important ethical right in the hospital, which equally, belongs to every human kind. Observance of patient right is responsibility of all treatment staff when they offer treatment and care for patient. This study aims to investigate observance of patients’ rights in emergency department of educational hospitals in south-east Iran. Design/methodology/approach This study used a cross-sectional design and was conducted in four educational hospitals affiliated with the Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2018. Using a two-section standard questionnaire of Patients’ Rights Charter, this study assessed patients’ rights observance using a census method, N = 382. The data from the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviations and analytic statistics such as Kolmogorov – Smirnov, ANOVA, t-test and Pearson test using SPSS 21. Findings Means of total score for observing all essentials of patients’ rights in emergency department of educational hospitals were at a moderate level (43.10 ±15.05) from the viewpoint of patients. The area of “providing health services based on respecting patient’s privacy and observing the essentials of secrecy and confidentiality” enjoying the highest mean score (86.89 ± 24.39), was at a good level compared to other areas. The area of “having access to effective complaint management system” showed the lowest mean score (23/85 ± 23/07) from the participants’ perspective proving a poor level. Between the patient rights observance and gender, education level, resident status and duration of hospitalization, a significant relationship was observed. Originality/value As regarded in this study, the degree of patients’ rights observance was moderate so, culture, paying attention to the rights of all stakeholders, identifying barriers and various factors, including the professional and environmental differences in the assessment of the need, should be considered by policymakers to design promotional and regulatory programs for improving the rights of the patient.