A time motion study in the immunization clinic of a tertiary care hospital of Kolkata, West Bengal

Abstract

Background:A time and motion study is used to determine the amount of time required for a specific activity, work function, or mechanical process. Few such studies have been reported in the outpatient department of institutions, and such studies based exclusively on immunization clinic of an institute is a rarity.Materials and Methods:This was an observational cross sectional study done in the immunization clinic of R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata, over a period of 1 month (September 2010). The study population included mother/caregivers attending the immunization clinics with their children. The total sample was 482. Pre-synchronized stopwatches were used to record service delivery time at the different activity points.Results:Median time was the same for both initial registration table and nutrition and health education table (120 seconds), but the vaccination and post vaccination advice table took the highest percentage of overall time (46.3%). Maximum time spent on the vaccination and post vaccination advice table was on Monday (538.1 s) and nutritional assessment and health assessment table took maximum time on Friday (217.1 s). Time taken in the first half of immunization session was more in most of the tables.Conclusion:The goal for achieving universal immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases requires multifaceted collated response from many stakeholders. Efficient functioning of immunization clinics is therefore required to achieve the prescribed goals. This study aims to initiate an effort to study the utilization of time at a certain health care unit with the invitation of much more in depth analysis in future.

Operational Efficiency of an Immunization Clinic Attached to Rural Health Training Centre in Delhi, India: A Time and Motion Study

“…This may be due to healthcare workers taking more time to enter various sociodemographic details during initial registration. These results were similar to a study conducted in Kolkata which also shows maximum time (46.3%) at the immunization clinic were spent in getting postvaccination advice [ 8 ].…”

“…Many studies have found that long waiting times and insufficient and inefficient staff as major obstacles faced by healthcare facilities in developing countries [ 8 ]. In the present study, it was observed that study participants had to spend 64.1% of their time at the immunization clinic in waiting to get service from immunization clinic.…”

A time motion study in the OPD clinic of a rural hospital of West Bengal

“…A time and motion study (or time-motion study) is a business efficiency technique combining the time study work of Frederick Winslow Taylor (1881 A.D) with the motion study work of Frank B. Gilberth and his wife Lillian Gilbreth (1885A.D). It is a major part of scientific management (Taylorism) 1 . Motion study is designed to determine best way to complete a repetitive job while the time study measures how long it takes an average worker to complete a task at a normal pace.…”

Time-motion study to know: Efficiency and effectiveness of clinical care is essential to hospital function?

“…We have discussed the time-motion article( 1 ) under articles review session and we would like to discuss our observations.…”

“…( 2 ) Taking cognizance of present trends and recognizing the fact that motion study always precedes the setting of a time standard, was presented in the same article. ( 1 )…”