Private Hospital Patients Research Articles

Functional seizure semiology and classification in a public and private hospital

PurposeOur understanding of potential differences in seizure semiology among patients with functional seizures (FS), also known as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), across socioeconomic contexts is currently limited. By examining the differences in seizure manifestations between different socioeconomic groups, we aim to enhance the understanding of how socioeconomic factors may influence FS presentation. This study aimed to describe FS semiology in patients from a private and public epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs) in Cape Town, South Africa. MethodsThe study included patients with FS confirmed through video-electroencephalography (video-EEG) and without comorbid epilepsy. For this retrospective case-control study, data on seizure semiology was gathered from digital patient records, beginning with the earliest available record for each hospital. ResultsA total of 305 patients from a private hospital and 67 patients from a public hospital were eligible for the study (N = 372). The private hospital tended to report more akinetic and subjective seizure types when compared to the public hospital. Additionally, patients at the public hospital had higher odds of reporting emotional seizure triggers (aOR=2.57, 95% CI [1.03, 6.37]), loss of consciousness or awareness (aOR=2.58, 95% CI [1.07, 6.24]), and rapid post-event recovery (aOR=6.01, 95% CI [2.52, 14.34]). At the same time, they were less likely to report both short (<30 s) (aOR=0.21, 95% CI [0.08, 0.55]) and long (>5 min) seizures (aOR=0.73, 95% CI [0.13, 0.56]), amnesia for the event (aOR=0.19, 95% CI [0.09, 0.43]), ictal aphasia (aOR=0.33, 95% CI [0.14, 0.76]) or falls and drop attacks (aOR=0.43, 95% CI [0.18, 0.996]), when compared to the private hospital patients. ConclusionWhile the seizure manifestations were largely consistent across the two socioeconomic cohorts of patients with FS, some subtle differences were observed and warrant further investigation.

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus, human T-lymphotropic virus and human immunodeficiency virus in patients receiving blood transfusions in South Africa.

South Africa has a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and to a lesser extent human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV). Each of these agents is transfusion-transmissible (TT)but deciding whether to implement preventive screening depends upon knowledge of background prevalence in transfused patients. We determined the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HTLV I/II among blood transfusion recipients in South African hospitals. We obtained identity-unlinked samples used for blood cross-matching at 634 South African hospitals served by the South African National Blood Service (SANBS). The ABBOTT Alinity S® Immunochemiluminescent system measured HIV, HBV and HTLV I/II antibodies. Repeatedly reactive samples were confirmed using the Roche Cobas® 8000. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the determinants of associations for HIV, HBV and HTLV infections. The overall prevalences of HIV, HBV and HTLV were 37.8%, 7.4% and 0.6%, respectively. The HIV prevalence in blood recipients was twice as high as general population estimates. Public hospital patients had a significantly higher prevalence compared with private hospital patients for HIV and HBV. HIV prevalence was significantly higher in females, and HBV prevalence was significantly higher in males, excluding the unknown gender results. Patients receiving blood transfusions in South Africa have high rates of HIV and HBV infection that should be taken into consideration when determining donor screening strategies for other viral infections. Measurable prevalence of HTLV indicates endemicity of this infection in South Africa.

Observation of the Reconstitution Process and Factors that Influence the Final Condition of Chemotherapy Patients in Private Hospitals

 Handling of cytostatic preparations is the aseptic handling of cancer drugs in ready-to-use packaging according to patient needs by trained pharmacists with control of environmental safety, officers, and drug preparations from toxic effects and contamination, using personal protective equipment. Resistant to handling cytostatics preparations, including preparation, mixing, handling of spills, and cytostatics waste management. The purpose of this study was to determine the suitability of the handling of cytostatic preparations and the description of the use of chemotherapy drugs in cancer patients. This research was conducted by descriptive analytic observation, data on the handling of cytostatics preparations was obtained by observing directly in the chemotherapy drug mixing room and data on the use of chemotherapy drugs were obtained retrospectively by looking at medical records and service sheets of mixing cytostatics preparations. The results obtained in the process of handling cytostatic preparations in the preparation, mixing and labeling stages are 100% to the guidelines, while the labeling stage is 86% appropriate. Evaluation of the type of use of chemotherapy drugs is known that the taxane drug class is the most widely used by 91,7%. The appropriate evaluation of chemotherapy drugs in breast cancer patients is 92%, lung cancer is 100% and uterine cancer is 0%. Evaluation of the correct dose of chemotherapy drugs obtained results of 0%. The results of the Chi Square statistical test found that there was a relationship between the last cycle of chemotherapy and the patient's final condition p = &lt;0.001

Politeness constructions in doctor-patient interactions in private hospitals in Akure, Nigeria

ABSTRACT This paper investigated politeness types constructed between doctors and patients during medical consultations in private hospitals in Akure, Nigeria. While the earlier studies on doctor-patient interactions in the Nigerian context employed Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory and Leech’s politeness maxims, this study adopted Akio Yabuuchi’s hierarchy politeness. Yabuchi’s model of hierarchy politeness was employed as a framework to identify the types of politeness. It investigates how politeness type influences linguistic choices and hierarchical behavior in doctor-patient interactions. The politeness types constructed are institutional politeness, symmetrical politeness, and quasi-institutional politeness. Common strategies used by doctors and patients to negotiate hierarchy within the politeness’ constructions include veneration and comprehension strategies. Asymmetry is customary between doctors and patients in Nigerian private hospitals; although patients pay for the consultations, doctors seem to act as the superior participant by constructing desired politeness type.

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis usage among surgical patients in both private and public hospitals in Ethiopia

BackgroundVenous thromboembolism (VTE) remains the commonest preventable cause of death in postoperative patients. VTE prophylaxis significantly reduces mortality risk, yet its utilization remains alarmingly low and variable (6–61 %) worldwide. This study aimed to compare VTE prophylaxis use among adult surgical patients in major hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Materials and methodsA multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in one private (Myungsung Christian Medical Center Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (MCM CSH)), and two public hospitals (Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College and Menelik II Referral Hospital). Data was collected by chart review using standardized checklist. Caprini score was used for risk stratification, and associations was assessed using chi-square test with significance set at p < 0.05. ResultsFrom a total of 423 patients, 222 (52.3 %) patients were male. The mean age of the patients is 43.3(±14.7 SD) years. 414 (98 %) patients were at risk for VTE with 257(61 %) having moderate to high risk, but only 31(7.5 %) were on prophylaxis. Prophylaxis use was 12.5 % in MCM CSH, but it was 5.5 % and 5.1 % in Yekatit 12 and Menelik II Referral Hospitals respectively. VTE prophylaxis use was significantly less in public hospitals (p < 0.05). ConclusionsDespite the majority of surgical patients being at risk of developing VTE, VTE prophylaxis remains significantly underutilized across major private and public hospitals in Ethiopia, particularly in public settings. The current study suggests standard risk assessment model implementation to address this significant and understudied risk to patients’ lives.

Time trends in case-mix and risk of revision following hip and knee arthroplasty in public and private hospitals: a cross-sectional analysis based on 476,312 procedures from the Dutch Arthroplasty Register.

This study aims to assess time trends in case-mix and to evaluate the risk of revision and causes following primary THA, TKA, and UKA in private and public hospitals in the Netherlands. We retrospectively analyzed 476,312 primary arthroplasties (public: n = 413,560 and private n = 62,752) implanted between 2014 and 2023 using Dutch Arthroplasty Register data. We explored patient demographics, procedure details, trends over time, and revisions per hospital type. Adjusted revision risk was calculated for comparable subgroups (ASA I/II, age ≤ 75, BMI ≤ 30, osteoarthritis diagnosis, and moderate-high socioeconomic status (SES). The volume of THAs and TKAs in private hospitals increased from 4% and 9% in 2014, to 18% and 21% in 2022. Patients in private hospitals were younger, had lower ASA classification, lower BMI, and higher SES compared with public hospital patients. In private hospitals, age and ASA II proportion increased over time. Multivariable Cox regression demonstrated a lower revision risk for primary THA (HR 0.7, CI 0.7-0.8), TKA (HR 0.8, CI 0.7-0.9), and UKA (HR 0.8, CI 0.7-0.9) in private hospitals. After initial arthroplasty in private hospitals, 49% of THA and 37% of TKA revisions were performed in public hospitals. Patients in private hospitals were younger, had lower ASA classification, lower BMI, and higher SES com-pared with public hospital patients. The number of arthroplasties increased in private hospitals, with a lower revision risk compared with public hospitals.

Association between hospital ownership and patient selection, management, and outcomes after carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting

BackgroundThis study analyses the association between hospital ownership and patient selection, treatment, and outcome of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS).MethodsThe analysis is based on the Bavarian subset of the nationwide German statutory quality assurance database. All patients receiving CEA or CAS for carotid artery stenosis between 2014 and 2018 were included. Hospitals were subdivided into four groups: university hospitals, public hospitals, hospitals owned by charitable organizations, and private hospitals. The primary outcome was any stroke or death until discharge from hospital. Research was funded by Germany’s Federal Joint Committee Innovation Fund (01VSF19016 ISAR-IQ).ResultsIn total, 22,446 patients were included. The majority of patients were treated in public hospitals (62%), followed by private hospitals (17%), university hospitals (16%), and hospitals under charitable ownership (6%). Two thirds of patients were male (68%), and the median age was 72 years. CAS was most often applied in university hospitals (25%) and most rarely used in private hospitals (9%). Compared to university hospitals, patients in private hospitals were more likely asymptomatic (65% vs. 49%). In asymptomatic patients, the risk of stroke or death was 1.3% in university hospitals, 1.5% in public hospitals, 1.0% in hospitals of charitable owners, and 1.2% in private hospitals. In symptomatic patients, these figures were 3.0%, 2.5%, 3.4%, and 1.2% respectively. Univariate analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between hospital groups. In the multivariable analysis, compared to university hospitals, the odds ratio of stroke or death in asymptomatic patients treated by CEA was significantly lower in charitable hospitals (OR 0.19 [95%-CI 0.07–0.56, p = 0.002]) and private hospitals (OR 0.47 [95%-CI 0.23–0.98, p = 0.043]). In symptomatic patients (elective treatment, CEA), patients treated in private or public hospitals showed a significantly lower odds ratio compared to university hospitals (0.36 [95%-CI 0.17–0.72, p = 0.004] and 0.65 [95%-CI 0.42-1.00, p = 0.048], respectively).ConclusionsHospital ownership was related to patient selection and treatment, but not generally to outcomes. The lower risk of stroke or death in the subgroup of electively treated patients in private hospitals might be due to the right timing, the choice of treatment modality or actually to better structural and process quality.

Lived Experiences of Intensive Care Professional Nurses Caring for COVID-19 Patients in Private Hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa: A Phenomenological Study

Aim. To explore and describe intensive care professional nurses’ experiences caring for COVID-19 patients in private hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa. Introduction. Pandemics are unique forms of disasters characterised by adverse psychological symptoms and behaviours. Literature confirms a globally increased workload during pandemics, causing emotional exhaustion and poor concentration among healthcare workers. Moreover, high mortality rates are mentioned as a cause of moral distress and moral injury to healthcare workers. South Africa was unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic, as evidenced by overcrowded hospitals, a lack of resources, and high mortality rates. Materials and Methods. A qualitative, phenomenological, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design was used. The five largest private hospitals from the same hospital group in Gauteng were chosen as they were admitting many COVID-19 patients. Fifteen participants were selected through purposeful sampling. Semistructured, in-depth, individual interviews were conducted and audio-recorded, and field notes were taken from April 2022 to December 2022. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Giorgi’s approach. Results. Three themes emerged: abrupt transition from normality to the COVID-19 pandemic; experienced isolation from family, community, and nursing management; and feelings of satisfaction and gratitude for teamwork and learning. Conclusions. It is essential for nurses’ holistic care to be considered along with patients’ holistic care. The findings in this study could drive healthcare institutions in South Africa to respond to nurses’ health, care, and support needs. Implication for Nursing Management. Nursing management should consider shorter and fewer consecutive workdays for nurses to rest and restore their energy levels. Nurse management should also provide human caring by being visible to the nurses and communicating with them. Holistic self-care practices should be included in nurses’ in-service training programmes.

A comparative study of patients satisfaction with the quality of nursing care in public and private hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, India

This research paper presents a comparative study on patients' satisfaction with the quality of nursing care in public and private hospitals within Uttar Pradesh, India. The study is motivated by the need to address the disparities in healthcare services and patient experiences between these two sectors. To accomplish this, a comprehensive framework has been developed encompassing literature review, research design, data collection, variables and measures, data analysis, findings, and recommendations. The study's primary objectives are to identify the factors that influence patients' satisfaction with nursing care and to assess the variations in quality between public and private hospitals. Through the analysis of data collected from a representative sample of patients, this study aims to provide valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare providers, and stakeholders in Uttar Pradesh's healthcare system. The findings and recommendations of this research are expected to contribute to the improvement of nursing care quality, ultimately enhancing the overall healthcare experience for patients in both public and private hospitals in the region.

The Effectiveness of Social Media Marketing Activities in Building Brand Equity and Patient Trust and its Influence on Visit Intention in Private Hospitals

Technological developments and increasingly fierce competition for private hospitals have forced private hospitals to innovate with each other to promote their services through social media. The research aims to measure how effective the implementation of social media marketing activities is in building brand awareness, brand image, brand equity, and trust from private hospital patients and their influence on visit intention. This study uses quantitative methods, and the data obtained will be processed using CB-SEM with the IBM AMOS application, analyzing 264 questionnaire responses. The study results show that social media marketing activities affect brand awareness, brand image, and trust but do not affect visit intention. Meanwhile, trust and brand equity have a significant impact on visit intentions. However, brand awareness does not affect brand image, yet both significantly impact brand equity. This study shows that collaboration between variables is needed to impact patient visit intentions positively. It is hoped that this research can help the management of private hospitals and other health facilities in forming marketing strategies through social media activities.

Patient perceptions of healthcare service quality in Romania: Public versus private hospitals – Implications for developed and developing healthcare systems

Objective: Recent increases in per capita income and longevity in Central and Eastern European counties (CEECs), alongside a slow-changing soviet-era public healthcare system, has led to the emergence of private hospitals. This paper investigates the differential patient service quality perceptions for private versus public hospitals, as well as for three types of healthcare services: primary, ambulatory, and inpatient care.Methods: Data from 1,673 patients of private and public hospitals in the capital of Romania were collected in face-to-face interviews. Analysis of covariance and partial-least-squares techniques were used to examine the relationships between perceived service quality, hospital ownership status and the type of health service patients received.Results: Over 70% of women prefer private health facilities to public hospitals (compared to less than 30% of men). While private hospitals rank higher than public hospitals on most attributes, the interaction effect of gender and hospital type reveals that assurance and empathy are the only significant attributes in driving women to private hospitals. (Physical facilities and staff appearance) as well as intangible dimensions of service quality (assurance, responsiveness, reliability, and empathy) have a positive impact on perceived overall service quality of healthcare. Improvements in perceptions of hospital’s tangibles, staff’s responsiveness and empathy have the greatest potential to enhance perceived overall service quality.Conclusions: This paper demonstrates the importance of breaking down health services into various sub-categories both in terms of perceived healthcare attributes and in terms of tangible healthcare facilities, such as public and private hospitals.

Outcomes related to hospital characteristics of heart transplant centers: A National Readmission Database analysis

IntroductionThis study showcases an analysis performed using the National Readmission Database (NRD) from 2016 to 2019 to analyze the impact of ownership, location, size, and teaching status of transplant centers on cardiac transplant outcomes. MethodsDemographic variables and hospital characteristics were identified using NRD data and International Classification of Diseases,10th revision (ICD-10) codes. Comorbidities were assessed using the Elixhauser comorbidity index. Multi-variable linear and logistic regression analysis were used to assess in-hospital mortality, 30-day and 180-day readmission rates, length of stay, days from admission to procedure, transfer to a rehab center, graft rejection, graft failure, and index admission total cost. ResultsMost cardiac transplants occurred in privately owned, large metropolitan areas, large bed size, and teaching centers. No significant difference was seen in In-hospital mortality, graft rejection, or graft failure by hospital ownership, location, size, or teaching status. Patients in private hospitals were more likely to be readmitted at 180 days and less likely to be transferred to rehab center compared to government owned hospitals. Patients in private, small bed size, and teaching centers were more likely to have shorter length of stay. Additionally, days of admission to procedure was shorter in small bed size and teaching centers. Furthermore, the cost of index-hospital stay was higher in privately owned, large metropolitan areas, large bed size, and teaching centers. ConclusionWhile in hospital mortality was not significantly different, various other outcomes related to cost and efficiency seem to be impacted by hospital characteristics.

Denture Hygiene Awareness, Practices and Instructional Guidance among Patients in Punjab, Pakistan: a Cross-Sectional Survey

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/strong&gt; Dentures require regular cleaning and without proper guidance on how to clean and care for their dentures, patients may experience discomfort, bad breath, and an increased risk of oral diseases. This study explored the level of awareness, hygiene practices, and the guidance received regarding denture care among individuals wearing dentures in Punjab.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;This survey was conducted with the agreement of the IRB, using systematic sampling, from November 2021 to August 2022 using a questionnaire developed by the authors, validated through expert review, and administered through interviews. The questions were asked in English language and in Urdu with those who did not understand English language. The survey instrument had 18 items targeting demographics, denture hygiene awareness and practices amongst private and public dental hospital patients.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;There was a statistically significant difference between private and public dental hospitals regarding instructions given for denture hygiene awareness. Most respondents received instructions verbally (83.3%), followed by practical demonstration (20%) and written instructions (9.3%). The majority agreed that unclean dentures have an association with oral (56%) and systemic (70.7%) health and may act as a source of infection (57.3%). A total of 56% of the respondents cleaned their dentures once daily while 16.7% reported halitosis. A significant proportion of the patients had the habit of wearing dentures overnight.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;Approximately half of the patients were aware of the optimal denture hygiene and the implications of wearing unclean dentures. The majority received instructions from dentists verbally and were wearing dentures overnight.&lt;/p&gt;

Medication use in patients with functional seizures from a public and a private hospital

PurposeCurrently, we have limited knowledge of any potential differences among patients with functional seizures (FS), otherwise known as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Investigating medication use among these patients may provide insight into the quality and intensity of medical care they receive. Thus, we aimed to assess and compare the frequency and quantity of antiseizure medications (ASMs), and psychiatric and other medications used among patients with FS from a private and public epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs) in Cape Town, South Africa. MethodsOnly video-electroencephalographically (video-EEG) confirmed patients with FS with no comorbid epilepsy were eligible for the study. For this retrospective case-control study we collected data on patients’ medication-taking histories using digital patient records, starting with the earliest available digital patient record for each hospital. ResultsA total of 305 patients from a private hospital and 67 patients from a public hospital were included in the study (N=372). Patients with FS attending the public hospital had lower odds of taking any ASMs at presentation (aOR=0.39, 95% CI [0.20, 0.75]) and ever taking psychiatric medications (aOR=0.41, 95% CI [0.22, 0.78]) compared to FS patients from the private hospital. They did, however, have higher odds of being discharged with an ASM (aOR=6.60, 95% CI [3.27, 13.35]) and ever taking cardiovascular medication (aOR=2.69, 95% CI [1.22, 5.90]) when compared to the private hospital patients. With every additional presenting ASM (aOR=0.63, 95% CI [0.45, 0.89]) and psychiatric medication (aOR=0.58, 95% CI [0.40, 0.84]) the odds of being from the public hospital decreased. However, they increased with every additional discharge ASM (aOR=3.63, 95% CI [2.30, 5.72]) and cardiovascular medication (aOR=1.26, 95% CI [1.02, 1.55]). ConclusionStandard approaches to pharmacological treatment for patients with FS differed between the public and private hospitals and may indicate a gap in quality of care.

The role of Satisfaction predictors in determining Revisit Intentions of patients in Private Health Institutions of Pakistan

This study is conducted to investigate the relationship of patient satisfaction with service quality and revisit intention of patients in private hospitals of Pakistan. The research was conducted by quantitative and cross-sectional survey-based method, where 334 responses were collected through convenience sampling technique from patients and attendants visiting the private hospitals in Pakistan. The data was analysed using SEM-PLS. Results revealed that patient satisfaction levels mediate the relationship between service quality parameters and revisit intentions of patients in private healthcare sector of Pakistan. This study contributes in helping the healthcare policy makers in adopting patient-centric structures for betterment of their service quality and enhancing patient satisfaction, eventually increasing the revisit intentions.

Measuring the needs of older adult patients in intensive care units: A translation and validation study of the NAPinICU questionnaire.

The NAPinICU questionnaire, specifically designed to assess the needs of older adult patients in intensive care units, serves as a valuable tool for understanding and addressing their unique requirements. This study applied a cross-cultural translation process, followed by a cross-sectional survey to measure patients' needs and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic-translated version of the NAPinICU questionnaire. The older adults' translated questionnaire demonstrated high content validity, good test-retest reliability and acceptable internal consistency. Discriminative validity confirmed significant differences in needs ratings between university and private hospital patients. This translated and validated tool can help in assessing the needs of older adults in intensive care units. Assessment of these patients' needs assists in enhancing the quality of care delivered to them by nurses and other healthcare providers.

Evaluation of Therapy in Preeclampsia Patients in Several Public and Private Hospitals

Objective: To determine the rationality and effectiveness of therapy in preeclampsia patients at the Inpatient Installation of several public and private hospital in Banyumas area from January-December 2021.&#x0D; Methods: This study is retrospective, employing purposive sampling for data collection. The data were extracted from the medical records of patients diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at the Inpatient Installation. The sample consisted of 212 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of pre-eclampsia.&#x0D; Results: From this study, it was found that antihypertensive medications given were methyldopa (52.8%), nifedipine (45.2%), and amlodipine (2%). It was found that the results of the five appropriate analyses were the suitable indication, right patient, proper medication, right dose, and correct route (100%). The antihypertensive medications used were effective in reducing the blood pressure of preeclampsia patients (100%), with an average decrease in systolic pressure by 37 mmHg, an average decrease in diastolic pressure by 22 mmHg, and an average decrease in MAP by 28 mmHg.&#x0D; Conclusion: Antihypertensives given to preeclampsia patients in several public and private hospitals in Banyumas were rational and effective in reducing the patient's blood pressure.&#x0D; Keywords: antihypertensives, effectiveness, preeclampsia, rationality.

Willingness to pay for haemodialysis among patients with chronic kidney disease in Abuja, Nigeria

BackgroundEvidence of willingness to pay for kidney replacement therapy is scarce in low-middle-income countries, including Nigeria’s Formal Sector Social Health Insurance Programme. The study, therefore, assessed the willingness to pay for haemodialysis among chronic kidney disease patients in Abuja, Nigeria.MethodsThe study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. We used the contingent valuation method to estimate the maximum stated willingness to pay (WTP) for haemodialysis among end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. We obtained informed written consent from respondents before data collection. The socio-demographic characteristics and willingness to pay data were summarized using descriptive statistics. We evaluated the mean differences in respondents’ WTP using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. All variables that had p < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were included in the Generalized Linear Model (gamma with link function) to determine the predictors of the WTP for one’s and another’s haemodialysis. The level of significance in the final model was ρ < 0.05.ResultsAbout 88.3% and 64.8% of ESKD patients were willing to pay for personal and altruistic haemodialysis, correspondingly. The mean annual WTP for haemodialysis for one’s and altruistic haemodialysis was USD25,999.06 and USD 1539.89, respectively. Private hospital patients were likelier to pay for their haemodialysis (β = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.21 to 0.57, p < 0.001). Patients attending public-private partnership hospitals were less likely to pay for altruistic haemodialysis than those attending public hospitals (β = -1.65, 95%CI: -2.51 to -0.79, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe willingness to pay for haemodialysis for themselves and others was high. The type of facility ESKD patients attended influenced their willingness to pay for haemodialysis. The findings highlight the need for policies to enhance affordable and equitable access to haemodialysis in Nigeria through pre-payment mechanisms and altruistic financing strategies.

Impact of Outpatient Quality Services on Patient Satisfaction

Abstract: Background: The success and survival of any healthcare organization depends on the patient’s satisfaction and quality. Patient satisfaction plays a vital role in the performance of care. Objective: To identify the factors influencing patient satisfaction with outpatient quality services in public and private hospitals. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on outpatient patients from different public and private hospital settings in Karachi, Pakistan. Data was collected through virtual tools such as Google Docs, asking about their experience of outdoor patients (OPD) in public or private hospitals. Using a non-probability, convenience sampling technique, a 5% margin of error and a confidence interval of 95%, the sample size was calculated as 377 participants rounded off to 400. Respondents were divided into males and females who visited any specialty department or general OPD. A self-administered questionnaire was designed to gather data, and a digital tool such as Google Docs was used to reach a wider audience. The reliability of the pre-validated tools has been assessed through Cronbach’s alpha. The Cronbach alpha for outpatient quality services is 0.717, and patients’ satisfaction is 0.98. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 25V by IBM Corporation. Result: Most respondents were from the age group (26-35 years), making up 42% of the entire population. Data gathered showed private hospitals preference over public hospitals and satisfaction as well. All the quality service variables identified in the study had a direct relationship with patient satisfaction except waiting time, which had a negative relationship. Regression Analysis showed a positive impact on the availability of services; thus 1% increase in service will lead to a 0.484% change in patient satisfaction. A negative relationship was also witnessed with a 1% increase in waiting time patient satisfaction is down by 0.119%. Conclusion: The level of satisfaction in public hospitals was not quite adequate, and the services were correspondingly rated as exceptional. The findings suggest that focusing on the nature of physician-related services, waiting for test results, and waiting for appointments are the most important factors impacting patient satisfaction in the outpatient division.

Assessing health-related quality of life among cancer survivors during systemic and radiation therapy in Bangladesh: a cancer-specific exploration

BackgroundEvaluating the effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment on a patient’s overall well-being is crucial and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a reliable metric for assessing this impact. Little is known about HRQoL among cancer survivors across various stages and treatments. The study examined individual and clinical factors influencing HRQoL among cancer survivors.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in two specialised cancer care hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Cancer-diagnosed adults receiving treatment at selected hospitals from January to May 2022 were enrolled. The 5-level EuroQol-5 Dimensions version (EQ-5D-5L) instrument was used to collect HRQoL data. HRQoL scores were derived using UK value sets. The investigation used a multivariable Tobit regression model to determine the association between independent variables and HRQoL scores.ResultsA total of 607 adult patients were enrolled, with 55% being females and 66% aged 36 to 64 years. Reported health problems in five EQ-5D domains include mobility (11%), self-care (11%), usual daily activities (19%), pain/discomfort (21%), and anxiety/depression (46%). Patients with throat, brain, lung, blood, and liver cancer had lower utility scores. Advanced-stage cancer survivors had lower utility scores (β = -49 units, 95% codfidence interval [CI]: -0.75 to -0.22) compared to early-stage survivors. Physically inactive survivors had lower utility scores by 0.41 units (95% CI: -0.51 to -0.30) compared to their counterparts. Private hospital patients had higher utility scores, whereas patients belonged to poor socioeconomic groups scored worse than wealthier ones.ConclusionsThis study highlights the impact of clinical and individual characteristics on HRQoL among cancer survivors. These findings advocate for an enhanced Bangladeshi cancer patient care model through timely interventions or programs, early detection or diagnosis, tailored treatments, and the promotion of physical activity to bolster HRQoL outcomes.