An Examination of Patients’ Knowledge of Health Delivery Services in Tertiary-bound Health Institution

Abstract

Supply of health services in teaching hospital usually provides confidence among users and this explains high patronage. Yet the bureaucratic characteristic of the hospital is a major concern. This study was designed to explore in-patients’ knowledge of healthy services in a tertiary bound hospital and how this shaped patronage among users. Cross sectional design and multi stage sampling (purposive, random, systematic and accidental) was adopted. Some 420 sample, respondents were determined and used. Data were collected and analysed at quantitative and qualitative level, using statistics and text. Mean age of respondents was 42 years and 69.8% were married, while 44.0% were self employed. Respondents (98.8%) reported knowledge that patients had power to report health problems to medical officers which provide clear path for treatment. Similarly, 98.1% adequately know that medical doctors ultimately recommended treatment investigation or regimen. Although 96.1% abundantly distinguished the role of nurses and other paramedics in the teaching hospital, yet availability of equipment (97.1%), access to pharmacy (94.0%), clean hospital environment (95.0%), patients’ knowledge of treatment (79.0%) and confidence in quality of service contributed to unbroken patronage. Knowledge was rated high (55.7%), moderate (27.6%) and low (16.7%) and this was strongly because the hospital operated patient oriented goal and flexible communication system which incorporated patients’ inclusion. Desire to discontinue patronage and consultation was strongly reported by patients with low knowledge who perceived that vital information of their health investigation was concealed from them. Tertiary hospital must operate inclusive information system to improve health seeking behavior among users.