Assessment of Awareness and Practice of Patient Rights from Patients’ Perspective in Governmental Hospitals in Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| Journal of High Institute of Public Health | ||
| Article 4, Volume 54, Issue 2, August 2024, Pages 73-83 PDF (371.41 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jhiph.2025.410027 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Shymaa M. Elshoura* ; Noha A. El-Dabbah | ||
| Department of Health Administration and Behavioral Sciences, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Patient rights are essential in ensuring that individuals receive respectful and ethical care. The awareness of and adherence to these rights among both patients and healthcare professionals significantly impact their practical enforcement. Objectives: The study aimed to assess awareness and practice of patient rights from patients’ perspective in governmental hospitals in Alexandria governorate in Egypt. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 inpatients at Abu Qir, Ras El-Tin and Gamel Abd El-Naser Hospitals. The study participants were distributed equally between the three hospitals by equal proportions, and they were taken randomly from different departments of the three hospitals. A structured interview questionnaire was used. It included three sections: sociodemographic and medical characteristics, awareness of inpatients of different aspects of patient rights, practice of patient rights from patients’ perspective (perceived practice). Results: The overall mean awareness score of patient rights scored in this study was 13.07 ± 3.68 out of a maximum score of 18. The majority of patients had good awareness (91%). The overall mean perceived practice by patients score of patient rights in this study was 10.14 ± 3.80 out of a maximum score of 19. More than half of patients had a good perceived practice (62%). Most inpatients were aware about their rights to be provided with appropriate medical services available in hospital facilities irrespective of gender, age, and religion (96.7%), and to have their pain assessed and treated (92.7%). Age and education level were the only significant predictors of increased level of awareness. Lack of awareness and deficient practice were reported in the items related to obtaining a second opinion consultation, getting information about treatment plans, signing informed consent for participation in research, and dealing with complaints. Conclusion: Most inpatients had a good level of awareness of patient rights and perceived good practice of these rights by healthcare providers. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Patient rights; awareness; practice; Egypt | ||
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