Understanding Awareness of Patient Rights: A Cross-sectional Survey among Healthcare Workers, Patients, and Attendees

Abstract

Introduction: In this modern era of medical science, “patient’s rights” have become a pivotal component of the healthcare system. There are increasing gaps between patients’ expectations and the delivery of quality care. Therefore, knowledge of “patient’s rights” among patients has received crucial value in medical science. Aim and objective: To assess the knowledge of “patient’s rights” among healthcare workers, patients, and their attendants. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among the healthcare workers, patients, and their attendants admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College and Hospital, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India, for a duration of 6 months from January to June 2023. We assessed 300 participants’ knowledge of “patient’s rights” based upon a standard questionnaire totaling 18 questions acquired from the “patient charter” Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) Government of India. Correct answers to >14 out of 18 questions were considered good knowledge. Results: Out of 300 participants, 156 (52%) were healthcare workers, and 144 (48%) were patients and their attendants. Overall, 96 (32%) participants were having poor knowledge of “patient’s rights.” The majority, 60 (41.7%) of patients and their attendants, have poor knowledge of “patient’s rights.”The lower level of education status was associated with poor knowledge of “patient’s rights” among patients and attendants (p = 0.0024). The lower level of socioeconomic status was associated with poor knowledge of “patient’s rights” (p = 0.0352). Conclusion: Our study noted poor knowledge about the “patient’s rights,” especially among the patients and attendants followed by medical students and nurses. Appropriate steps are needed to improve awareness among patients and healthcare providers.