Hourly-block and standard patient scheduling systems at two private hospitals in Alexandria

Figures & data

Table 1 Comparison between new and return cases with regards to time parameters at Hospital A and Hospital B (Alexandria, 2010)

Time parameter	Hospital A New cases (n = 46)		Hospital B New cases (n = 55)		Test of significance (95% CI)
	Mean	SD	Mean	SD
Access time (days)	12.2	5.9	9.8	6.8	(−2.37–2.3) 7.1a
Punctuality time (minutes)	22.2	15.6	28.5	12.3	(4.67–2.5) −0.58
Waiting time (minutes)	18.9	13.7	27.5	17.1	(−2.5–2.1) −7.9a
Consultation time (minutes)	11.3	5.8	14.5	9.0	(−3.2 to −2.4) −2.0
	Return cases (n = 93)		Return cases (n = 94)
Access time (days)	14.5	6.1	6.1	5.3	(−2.4–0.5) −1.9a
Punctuality time (minutes)	48.9	27.0	19.5	13.2	(−4.2–0.8) 6.1a
Waiting time (minutes)	17.1	6.2	19.4	6.9	(−3.4–1.7) −0.8
Consultation time (minutes)	8.2	4.9	12.3	3.9	(−3.8 to −0.8) −2.2

Note:

a P < 0.05.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Patient’s opinionnaire at Hospital A (Alexandria, 2010)

Dimensions	New case (n = 44)		Return case (n = 93)		Total		χ^2
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
Waiting time
Short period	17	38.6%	16	17.2%	33	24.1%	8.2a
Moderate	12	27.3%	42	45.2%	54	39.4%
Long	15	34.1%	35	37.6%	50	36.5%
Anticipated waiting time
Less than 15 minutes	16	36.4%	26	28%	42	30.7%	3.2
15–30 minutes	17	38.6%	42	45.2%	59	43.1%
30–60 minutes	9	20.5%	24	25.8%	33	24.1%
More than 60 minutes	2	4.5%	1	1.1%	3	2.2%
Appointment time
Morning	20	45.5%	44	47.3%	64	46.7%	0.2
Afternoon	18	40.9%	39	41.9%	57	41.6%
Evening	6	13.6%	10	10.8%	16	11.7%
Appointment preference
Standard appointment	33	75.0%	68	73.1%	101	73.7%	0.06
Block appointment	11	25.0%	25	26.9%	36	26.3%
Provider choice
Yes	31	70.5%	72	77.4%	103	75.2%	0.8
No	13	29.5%	21	22.6%	34	24.8%
Ease of booking an appointment
Easy	24	54.5%	51	54.8%	75	54.7%	0.6
Slightly difficult	15	34.1%	35	37.6%	50	36.5%
Difficult	5	11.4%	7	7.5%	12	8.8%
Total	44	100%	93	100%	137	100%

Note:

a P < 0.05.

Table 3 Patients’ opinionnaire at Hospital B (Alexandria, 2010)

Dimensions	New case (n = 44)		Return case (n = 93)		Total		χ^2
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
Waiting time
Short period	10	18.2%	10	10.6%	20	13.4%	2.1
Moderate	15	27.3%	24	25.5%	39	26.2%
Long	30	54.5%	60	63.8%	90	60.4%
Anticipated waiting time
Less than 15 minutes	5	9.1%	8	8.5%	13	8.7%	2.6
15–30 minutes	22	40.0%	42	44.7%	64	43.0%
30–60 minutes	21	38.2%	39	41.5%	60	40.3%
More than 60 minutes	7	12.7%	5	5.3%	12	8.1%
Appointment time
Morning	40	72.7%	63	67%	103	69.1%	1.3
Afternoon	14	25.5%	26	27.7%	40	26.8%
Evening	1	1.8%	5	5.3%	6	4.0%
Appointment preference
Standard appointment	26	47.3%	56	59.6%	82	55.0%	0.8
Block appointment	29	52.7%	38	40.4%	67	45.0%
Provider choice
Yes	36	65.5%	58	61.7%	94	63.1%	0.2
No	19	34.5%	36	38.3%	55	36.9%
Ease of booking an appointment
Easy	48	87.3%	81	86.2%	129	86.6%	4.1a
Slightly difficult	5	9.1%	13	13.8%	18	12.1%
Difficult	2	3.6%	0	0.0%	2	1.3%
Total	55	100%	94	100%	149	100%

Note:

a P < 0.05.