Shabnam Bazmi1, Mehrzad Kiani2, Seyed Saeed Hashemi Nazari3, Mona Kakavand4, Razieh Mahmoodzade4. 1. Medical Ethics Department, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran. 2. Medical Ethics Department, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran kiani1341@yahoo.com. 3. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran. 4. School of Medicine; Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Respecting patients' rights is an essential component in health care. Passing a regulation is not a guarantee for the protection of patients' rights. This article aimed to assess patients' awareness of the contents of the Patient's Bill of Rights in Iran and to determine if they had received a service compatible with their rights charter. METHODS: This is a descriptive study in 202 hospitalised patients. A questionnaire was used, and associations between variables were examined using Pearson's correlation test. The significance level was p < .05. RESULTS: The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 87 years of age, 33% were male and 79% were married. Patients' knowledge was lowest regarding the need for consent for the treatment process and was highest regarding the patient's right to know the expertise of the treatment team. The mean of patients' knowledge was 77.56%. As for patients' exercising their rights, the highest score belonged to the patient's right for attending doctors and treatment team's confidentiality; the lowest score belonged to the right to receive necessary information about probable complications, other treatment options and participation in the final selection of treatment method. The mean score of patient satisfaction was 8.06 (out of 11). There was no significant relationship with their education level or the number of admissions. CONCLUSION: Health-care professionals can provide care based on patients' rights, and their knowledge of patients' rights needs to be evaluated. Educational programmes, leaflets, booklets and posters can be helpful in this regard. In addition, professional organisations and the Ministry of Health need to be more sensitive to this issue.
INTRODUCTION: Respecting patients' rights is an essential component in health care. Passing a regulation is not a guarantee for the protection of patients' rights. This article aimed to assess patients' awareness of the contents of the Patient's Bill of Rights in Iran and to determine if they had received a service compatible with their rights charter. METHODS: This is a descriptive study in 202 hospitalised patients. A questionnaire was used, and associations between variables were examined using Pearson's correlation test. The significance level was p < .05. RESULTS: The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 87 years of age, 33% were male and 79% were married. Patients' knowledge was lowest regarding the need for consent for the treatment process and was highest regarding the patient's right to know the expertise of the treatment team. The mean of patients' knowledge was 77.56%. As for patients' exercising their rights, the highest score belonged to the patient's right for attending doctors and treatment team's confidentiality; the lowest score belonged to the right to receive necessary information about probable complications, other treatment options and participation in the final selection of treatment method. The mean score of patient satisfaction was 8.06 (out of 11). There was no significant relationship with their education level or the number of admissions. CONCLUSION: Health-care professionals can provide care based on patients' rights, and their knowledge of patients' rights needs to be evaluated. Educational programmes, leaflets, booklets and posters can be helpful in this regard. In addition, professional organisations and the Ministry of Health need to be more sensitive to this issue.