Are Patients Aware of Their Rights? A Cross-Sectional Study of Visitors to Three Primary Healthcare Centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and objective Patients' rights are an essential aspect of human rights. Thus, in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) established a Patients' Bill of Rights (PBR) and introduced it to the public about 30 years ago. This study aims to assess levels of awareness of PBR and to identify their information sources among visitors to primary healthcare centers (PHCCs). Methods This cross-sectional study included 358 visitors, aged 17 to 78, to three PHCCs at the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted between April and December 2017 using a self-administered questionnaire. The initial sample (convenience sampling) was refined to match the proportion of participants with the relative size of populations served by the centers. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the relationships between participants' demographic data and levels of awareness of patients' rights. Results Most participants (72.2%) were moderately aware of their rights, but the majority (65.3%) were unaware of the existence of the PBR. Healthcare providers were the main information source for patients' rights, although participants with the highest awareness scores obtained information from social media. Level of awareness was significantly associated with education, income, and regular hospital follow-ups. Conclusions The study results should motivate healthcare providers, stakeholders, and health organizations in Saudi Arabia to raise and maintain public awareness of patients' rights and to implement them. (Copyright © 2021, Al-Rebdi et al.)