title: Community perception on OPD performance of a teaching hospital in Gondar town.
abstract: Among 2605 heads of households interviewed in Gondar Town, 1,099 (42%) had visited the Out Patient Department of the Gondar College of Medical Sciences Hospital during the past one year. Of these, 856 (78%) were dissatisfied with the services. The pharmacy was perceived as the worst unit of the Department. Among the 1,042 visitors who had gone to the pharmacy, 76% were unable to buy all the drugs prescribed by the physicians. The outcome of treatment as perceived by the visitors were 671 (61%) improved and 71 (7%) died at home after seeking consultation at the OPD. Mechanisms of improving hospital performances such as greater community participation and improved management system are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Gondar College of Medical Sciences, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dagnew
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zakus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management