Factors Associated Patient Waiting Time at Outpatient Department in Allied Hospital Faisalabad

Abstract

Background: Extreme long waiting time in outpatient department in the Constant challenge for patients and the health providers of these services. Waiting long time are related with poor outcome to treatment, lost appointment and failure or delay in start of basic treatment. The time a patient spends at every service point before being examine by a health supplier and the overall total time a patient spends in a health facility from the arrival time to the departure time is a main cause towards the perception of the patient towards the care received. Objective: To define waiting time and related factors among patients who attend outpatient department of the Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Methodology:  Cross-sectional study was done, data collection was Conducted on 354 outpatient over a period of four weeks by an interview and pre planed questionnaire used to select patients in outpatient department .To analyses all data the data was cleaned then planned questionnaire with the time-tracking piece.  The method that was used Simple random sampling after this ,The data was entered in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 20 .Results: In total 354 patients were traced an interviewed 55.4 minutes usual time was noted .Many of the patients waited in the outpatient department for 65 minutes to obtain the facilities they had need. In the doctor office lengthiest waiting time was recorded which was 13.2 minutes Mostly patient came at the outpatient department to received services new consultations and follow up review. 68 % person gave response that they felt the time they had spent at outpatient department was acceptable. While, many of the patients at outpatient department 62.7% advised that waiting time can be reduced by improving availability of workers at their working points.  Department and the mean waiting time at the outpatient department is the first stair to reducing waiting time .There is a need to change internal practices and then implement at the outpatient department.  About one hour and 5 minutes many of patients spent time at the facility to be given. Maximum patients felt the total time spent in the facility is acceptable but recommended that improving availability of health workers at their stations will reduce the Distinguishing the areas that cause to delay in meet health care services at the outpatient waiting time of the patient and hence improve the provision of services.