Title: Level of Satisfaction Determines the Attitude towards Treatment among Patients with Selected Life-Style Diseases Attending Outpatient Department – Experience from a Pilot Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Dr Arista Lahiri, Dr Arup Chakraborty, Dr Nirmalya Manna, Dr Shibaji Gupta, Dr Sukanya Ray
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i4.156
Abstract
Background: Adherence and positive attitude to treatment is greatly important for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Satisfaction towards out-patient department (OPD) services influences the attitude towards treatment and therefore adherence. But there is a paucity of studies supporting this fact in Indian context. Satisfaction and adherence to treatment in Indian perspective are needed to be measured keeping in mind the socio-cultural background. With this back-drop the objective of the study was to find out the epidemiological determinants of satisfaction regarding OPD services and attitude regarding treatment; also to identify the relationship among the socio-demographic, clinical factors & level of satisfaction from OPD services and attitude regarding treatment.
Methodology: Patients with selected NCDs attending the General Medicine OPD at Medical College, Kolkata who gave consent were selected by systematic random sampling. Exit interview was done with a pre-designed pre-tested semi-structured schedule.
Results: 46 participants were interviewed. Majority were male, hindu, with lower level of socio-economic status (SES) (modified B G Prasad Scale). Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were identified as the major diagnoses with many participants suffering from more than one NCDs. Majority of the participants were overall satisfied with OPD services, showed overall positive attitude towards treatment and their relationship was statistically significant. Area of residence was significantly related to attitude towards visit adherence.
Conclusion: Statistically significant relationship was observed between overall level of satisfaction &overall attitude regarding treatment. This suggested that in order to increase adherence to treatment in general and adherence to medication, which is vital for control of NCDs, satisfaction of patients from OPD services should not be undermined.
Keywords: 1. Non-communicable diseases, 2. Patient Satisfaction, 3. Attitude towards treatment, 4. Treatment adherence.
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