Patient's perspective of outpatient clinic services delivery during Covid-19 outbreak in East-Jerusalem
Date
2022-05-24
Authors
Firas zeyad Abdulqader Daghlas
فراس زياد عبد القادر دغلس
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Al-Quds University
Abstract
Background: Corona viruses are called zoonotic viruses that are transmitted from animals
to humans, at the end of 2019, the appearance of a new Coronavirus disease COVID-19 in
Wuhan China. The state of emergency was declared by Palestinian Minister of Health in 5
march 2020, and in 11 March 2020, the 'World Health Organization' (WHO) declared
COVID-19 as a "pandemic". The COVID-19 pandemic has the same implications on
health system due to reduced accessibility and availability of health resources. During
COVID-19 pandemic the quality of care suffered and the virus stretched some health
systems to breaking point and intensive care units being overwhelmed. Patient's attitude
toward healthcare has shifted during COVID-19 pandemic, and out-patients have reduced
their regular visits to the clinics. Understanding of patient's preference leads the care to be
cheaper, more effective and closer to the individuals' desires. The COVID-19 morbidity
and mortality indicators were higher in Palestine in comparison with the global level.
Furthermore, social gathering and lack of readiness of the fragmented health system were
risk factors in the spread of COVID-19.
Aim: To assess the patient's perspective of outpatient clinics services delivery during
COVID-19 outbreak in East-Jerusalem.
Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted by using convenience
sampling technique and self-administered questionnaires which consisted of the
socio-demographic data sheet and patient's perspective of health care system
delivery on accessibility, availability of resources quality of care, and patient's
attitude and preferences during COVID-19 outbreak scale which developed
based on Jadoo (2014) study. The sample included 300 participants from
outpatient clinics in East- Jerusalem hospitals which were Al-Makassed hospital,
Augusta Victoria Hospital and Saint-Joseph hospital. Statistical analysis was
done using T-test, one-way ANOVA, the statistical significance was defined as a
P-value of (0.05).
Results: The results showed that the most of the participants (98.6%) had negative opinion
when the current situation is compared with before the COVID-19 period in terms of
accessibility, availability of resources, quality of care, attitudes and patient's preference.
Only 5.55% of participants had a positive opinion regarding the preference of the health
care system during the COVID-19 outbreak. The relationship between the dependent and
IV
the independent variables showed that there was a statistically significant relationship
between patient's perspectives of health care system delivery items and occupation, pvalue
is equal to 0.036(α ≤ 0.05).
Moreover, there was no significant relationship between medical history variables and
patients‘ perspectives, since (α ≤ 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that there was no
significant relationship between occupation and participant's opinion (p= 0.089)
prevalence odds ratio [POR] = 1.98, 95%CI 1.225-3.215).
Conclusion: This study revealed that the most of the participants had a negative opinion
when the current situation is compared with before the COVID-19 period in terms of
accessibility, availability of resources, quality of care, attitudes and the patient's
preference. Only 5.55% of participants had a positive opinion regarding the preference of
the health care system during the COVID-19 outbreak. Most of the participants reported
that there is a decrease in the accessibility to health services that were provided during the
COVID-19 outbreak in East Jerusalem. Policy makers should pay attention to the
accessibility to health care, availability of health resources, quality of healthcare, patient's
attitudes and patient's preference during COVID-19 pandemic and other pandemics. Also,
policymakers should investigate the reasons behind increased waiting time and more
money consuming to get health care services. Moreover, should pay attention to the
importance of patient's perspective and their opinion in health care system which leads to
better understanding of patients needs and preferences. There is a need to conduct a
qualitative study to understand the issues in more detail ,the reasons why patients do not
prefer the health services (now) during the COVID-19 outbreak period.