STUDY ON PERCEPTION OF NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF PATIENTS IN AN ORTHOPAEDIC WARD OF HOSPITAL

Abstract

The present report deals with the perceived needs and problems of patients in an orthopedic ward of Safdarjang Hospital in New Delhi. The major objective of study is to identify reception of needs and problems of patients in hospital ward situation and to know their opinion about improving the hospital services. The total number of 150 adult patients were employed in the study. The patients were selected on the basis of random sampling. The data from the respondents was collected through personal interview. The study noticed that about 90 per cent of the patients expressed their dissatisfaction with the food being served in the hospital ward. The study indicates that 75 per cent of the patients were satisfied with the visiting hours. All the 20 patients interviewed felt that there is no provision for recreation in the ward thus they were very much concerned about recreational facilities. Of all respondents, 60 per cent appeared to be satisfied with the treatment at hospital. The study noticed that the patients related their satisfaction of medical treatment to their recovery. The findings of present study indicate that the patients have certain predominant needs in the hospital ward situation. Their major concerns relate to their present illness, precautions which they should take after being discharged, recovery and rehabilitation. It is necessary, therefore, that before organizing health education programme for patients in a hospital ward situation, the educational contents of the programme are to be made consonant with the needs of the patients. Their dissatisfactions are to be removed and concerns cashed. The dissatisfaction of patients with regard to food may be due to their lack of knowledge about hospital feed. The study it can be concluded that the needs and problems of patients should be taken into consideration while organizing educational programme for patients, since patients are also people.