PRACTICE OF PATIENT’S RIGHTS AMONG PHYSICIANS AND NURSES IN TWO EGYPTIAN HOSPITALS FROM PATIENTS’PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Background: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights clarifies the meaning of human dignity in the law. This is achieved by providing a legal and an ethical basis to improve the standards of care for the patients and giving important guidance on various critical, social, legal, and ethical issues.

Aim: The aim of the study is to assess various practices of patient’s rights among physicians and nurses in two Egyptian hospitals from patients’ perspective.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 200 in-patients at the medical and surgical wards of the Alexandria Main University Hospital (AMUH) and the Matrouh General Hospital (MGH).  Close ended questionnaire was used to identify the practice of patient’s rights among physicians and nurses from patients’ perspective or views

Results: Almost 27 % of patients in the Alexandria Main University Hospital and 53 % of patients in Matrouh General Hospital did not have any awareness about their rights. 5.0% of physicians and nurses had good practice and 42 % of them had moderate practice in Alexandria Main University Hospital, while 29 % of physicians and nurses in Matrouh General Hospital had moderate practice. The highest mean practice scores of patient’ rights aspects in Alexandria Main University Hospital and Matrouh General Hospital was health care and respect as human being. Thus, this was followed by adequate information, a given written consent, and health education and environment.

Conclusion: The practice of patient’s rights among physician and nurses are in a poor level. Poor practice without doubt, is related to deficiency of awareness and attitude, lack of training, inadequate supervision and guidance, inadequate policy and procedure, limited budget and facilities, and unsupported management.

Keywords: Practice, Patient’s Rights, Physicians, Nurses