Patient’s Rights: Assessment of Knowledge and Practices of Physicians at Benha University Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Patients' rights (PRs) mean a set of rights that an individual has in the healthcare organizations that ensure that they receive ethical treatment and high quality of care. PRs became an important topic in healthcare practices worldwide and essential for providing high quality care. Aim: This study looked for assessment of knowledge and practices of physicians working in the authors’ Benha University Hospitals, about PRs. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using structured questionnaire included 20 questions concerning PRs. Study participants were 230 physicians & 300 patients. Results: 97.0% of the physicians achieved satisfactory score regarding knowledge about PRs ,but only 14.7% of them showed satisfactory score of practices (from patients’ point of view). There is statistically significant difference between score of knowledge and practices of PRs (p<0.001). The score of knowledge was affected by physicians’ age, gender, highest qualification, work position, work experience and average number of working hours, while patients’ opinion in physicians’ practices of PRs was affected by patients’ gender, educational level and department of admission. Patients’ residence & their length of hospital stay (LOS) did not significantly influenced their opinion. Conclusion: There was discrepancy between knowledge and practices of PRs.