The Perspective of Emergency Department Professionals on Patients Rights

Abstract

Objective: Patient rights are a sub-heading of human rights and are one of the fundamental rights of human beings gained from birth. the aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge and attitudes of all personnel working in emergency departments of second healthcare hospitals of Rize province towards patient rights, which is an important aspect of the quality of healthcare and patient satisfaction. Methods: the study was conducted in July-August 2009 in the emergency departments of the second healthcare hospitals of Rize province by participation of 390 professionals 235 (60.2%) of them were volunteer to fill a survey performed in the basis of Patient Rights Directive. the obtained data were analyzed with the SPSS for Windows 17.0 software program; statistical analytic methods were used such as average, frequency, standard deviation and k-square, p<0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results: A total of 62.1% (n=146) of the study participants were males and 35.7% (n=84) were included in the 26-30 years age group. Regarding the period of working 34.5% (n=82) of the subjects were working for 13-36 months in the emergency department and 72.3% (n=170) of them was found to be willingly working in this department. When questioned about their first encounter with the patient rights 48.9% (n=115) of them answered as in-service training. When asked about the first to come to mind regarding patient rights 40.4% (n=95) of the subjects answered as equality of access to services Conclusion: Patient rights should be defended by patients, hospital staff and hospital management to allow the provision of quality health services to ensure a better environment for patients.