Comparison of Patients Satisfaction Levels Toward Nursing Care in Public and Private Hospitals, Jimma, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

The difference in nursing care quality by institution has implications for both the organization and its clients. Though disparities in patient satisfaction, which is an interpersonal patient outcome with nursing care, have been reported between public and private hospitals, there has been little research on the study area.

Objective

To compare the level of patients’ satisfaction towards nursing care services among adult inpatients at Jimma Medical Center, and Oda Hulle hospital Jimma, southwest Ethiopia 2021.

Methods

A comparative cross-sectional study design was used among 431 patients of Jimma medical center and Oda Hulle hospital from May 3 to July 3, 2021, using a systematic random sampling technique. The Newcastle scale of satisfaction was used to collect data, which was then entered into Epidata 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. We used descriptive and logistic regression analysis.

Results

Patient satisfaction at public and private hospitals was reported 54.2% (95% CI: 52.9–59.3) and 57.1% (95% CI: 55.2–61.7), respectively. In public hospital, the patient satisfaction was affected by being in the age group of 41–50 years (P = 0.006, AOR = 3), duration of stay in the ward (P = 0.002, AOR = 0.42,), cleanliness of the ward (P = 0.018, AOR = 1.8,), and admission history (P = 0.049, AOR = 0.60,). In private hospital (Oda Hulle), the patient satisfaction was affected by history of admission (P = 0.035, OR = 0.456), ward space (p = 0.007, AOR = 2.8), the perceived capacity of nurses (P = 0.002, AOR = 5.8) to pharmacy services (P = 0.032, AOR = 2.3,).

Conclusion

Relatively the patient satisfaction towards nursing care in public hospital was lower compared to the private hospital, though no statistical difference (p = 0.225) observed. Illness history, cleanliness of the ward, Nurses make adequate visits and get their support when needed, Adequacy of ward space, the perceived capacity of nurses, and Access to pharmacy services were positively associated with patient satisfaction.

Keywords:

• nursing care
• patients’ satisfaction
• public–private
• service quality

Ethical Considerations

To conduct the study, ethical clearance was obtained from Institutional review board of Jimma University after submitting the proposal. The letter of support was obtained from both participating facilities. Written informed consent was taken from the participants and all the data obtained in due course was kept confidentially. This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Acknowledgment

We thank Jimma University for funding this research project. We are also grateful to all study participants and data collectors.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.