Patients’ Expectations in Emergency Department at King Abdulaziz University Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study

TL;DR

This study explores what patients expect during their visits to the emergency department at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah.

Contribution

The study provides insights into patient expectations in an ED setting in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing triage and doctor assessment.

Findings

Most patients expect the most serious cases to be seen first.

A majority believe a doctor should assess their condition upon arrival.

There was no significant difference in expectations across age groups.

Abstract

Background: Emergency departments (EDs) are vital to the timely and necessary care that a significant percentage of patients get. Emergency medicine places a high priority on quality, and to deliver patient-centered care, it is crucial to first investigate patient expectations from ER visits.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study of all visits to the King Abdulaziz University Hospital Emergency Department in Jeddah. The study included adult patients who visited the emergency department and were willing to complete a survey and participate in an interview. Data was collected through face-to-face questionnaires. Patient’s expectations during their visit to the emergency department were correlated to different parameters using univariate and bivariate analysis.

Results: The study included 291 patients. The majority of patients believed that their medical condition required admission to the hospital and agreed that it would be easier to receive treatment if admitted to the hospital. Results showed that 65.6% (n=191) of patients reported that the most serious patients should be seen first, and 65.3% (n=190) reported that a doctor should determine the seriousness of their health problem upon arrival. There was no significant difference found between age groups in relation to other items of expectations.

Conclusion: It is clear that a sizable percentage of patients place a high value on seeing the most urgent cases first and having a doctor assess each patient's condition when they arrive. Our results show that, in order to guarantee the best patient happiness and care, healthcare practitioners must meet patients' expectations and modify their strategies accordingly.