A Survey of Health Service Problems in the Outpatient Department of Public Hospitals

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine problems of health service in the outpatient department of public hospitals and to compare the levels of 5 health service problems (convenience, coordination, courtesy and respect, medical information, and quality of care) in the outpatient department of public hospitals. This research employed a quantitative research method using survey questionnaires with 385 samples. This research found that health service’s convenience was the most important problem to patients. A one-way ANOVA and a Scheffe’s Post Hoc Comparison revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in the level of health service’s problems between the health service’s convenience and other problems. When considering the health service’s convenience dimension, the samples reported that waiting time in public hospitals was the most important problem, followed by bathroom’s cleanliness, the adequacy of chairs in the examination room, and the clarification of health service and medical documents, instructions, and signs, respectively.