Patients’ awareness of their rights: An insight from a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia Patients’ awareness of their rights

Main Article Content

Mohammed Madadin
Ritesh G. Menezes https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2135-4161
Abdulaziz A. Almazrua
Bandar A. Alzahrani
Maha A. Alassaf
Abdullah K. Al-Hwiesh
Muhammad Shariq Usman

Keywords

patient rights, doctor-patient relationship, medical ethics and law, clinical ethics, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and aim: Knowledge and awareness of patients’ rights are essential to reach the highest quality of care. In 2006, the Saudi Arabian government formulated “The Patients’ Bill of Rights” to ensure that healthcare delivery is at its highest standard. Despite their efforts, several studies revealed patients’ lack of awareness. In this study, we aim to investigate the patients’ awareness of their rights according to the policy of a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted where the participants (n= 384) were in-patients and out-patients of a tertiary care teaching hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Informed consent was obtained, and confidentiality was maintained. The questionnaire consisted of 23 questions. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package Social Software version 26. Results: Most of the participants were males (70.1%), in-patients (63.3%), and Saudi nationals (84.5%) with a mean age of 32 years. The mean awareness score was satisfactory (>7/14). However, more than half of the participants were unaware of their right to know the risks and benefits of treatment (55.1%), to know the identity of their healthcare providers (61.9%), to deny participation in research (58%), and appoint a healthcare proxy (64.8%). Conclusions: The present study revealed the lack of awareness of certain aspects of patients’ rights that require action in the means of hospital awareness campaigns and educational materials. Further research is required to generalize a consensus on the Saudi population’s level of awareness and consequent steps to optimize the delivery of healthcare in the country.

Abstract 228 | PDF Downloads 201

References

1. Krzych L, Ratajczyk D. Awareness of the patients' rights by subjects on admission to a tertiary university hospital in Poland. J Forensic Leg Med 2013;20(7):902-905. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2013.06.006.
2. The Joint Commission. 2021. Available from: http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/improving_health_literacy.pdf (assessed 10 October 2022)
3. National Center for Farmworker Health. Patient rights and responsibilities. 2014. Available from: http://www.ncfh. org/uploads/3/8/6/8/38685499/patientrrintro.pdf (assessed 10 November 2022)
4. World Health Organization. Mental health, human rights and legislation. 2021. Available from: https:// www.who.int/mental_health/policy/legislation/en/ (assessed 10 October 2022)
5. Mastaneh Z, Mouseli L. Patients’ awareness of their rights: insight from a developing country. Int J Health Policy Manag 2013;1(2):143-146. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2013.26.
6. Aydin E. Rights of patients in developing countries: the case of Turkey. J Med Ethics 2004;30(6):555-557. doi: 10.1136/jme.2003.005819.
7. European Commission. Public health. 2021. Available from: https://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/co_operation/mobility/docs/health_service (assessed 10 November 2022)
8. Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. 2021 Available from: http://www.moh.gov.sa/ar/modules/news/print.php?storyid=281 (assessed 10 October 2022)
9. Alghanim SA. Assessing knowledge of the patient bill of rights in central Saudi Arabia: a survey of primary health care providers and recipients. Ann Saudi Med 2012;32(2):151-155. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2012.151.
10. Almoajel AM. Hospitalized patients’ awareness of their rights in Saudi governmental hospital. Middle East J Sci Res 2012;11:329-335.
11. Abolarin IO, Oyetunde MO. Patients’ knowledge and exercise of their rights at the university college hospital, Ibadan. Afr J Med Med Sci 2013;42(3):253-260.
12. Yousuf RM, Fauzi AR, How SH, Akter SF, Shah A. Hospitalised patients’ awareness of their rights: a cross-sectional survey from a tertiary care hospital on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Singapore Med J 2009;50(5):494-499.
13. Zeina H, El Nouman A, Zayed M, Hifnawy T, El Shabrawy E, El Tahlawy E. Patients' rights: a hospital survey in South Egypt. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2013;8(3):46-52. doi: 10.1525/jer.2013.8.3.46.
14. Zulfikar F, Ulusoy M. Are patients aware of their rights? A Turkish study. Nurs Ethics 2001;8(6):487-498. doi: 10.1177/096973300100800603.
15. Ducinskiene D, Vladickiene J, Kalediene R, Haapala I. Awareness and practice of patient's rights law in Lithuania. BMC Int Health Hum Rights 2006;6:10. doi: 10.1186/1472-698X-6-10.
16. World Health Organization. Genomics. 2021. Available from: http://www.who.int/genomics/public/patientrights/en/ (assessed 11 November 2022)
17. Mohammed E, Seedhom A, Ghazawy E. Awareness and practice of patient rights from a patient perspective: an insight from Upper Egypt. Int J Qual Health Care 2017;30(2):145-151. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzx182.
18. Bazmi S, Kiani M, Hashemi Nazari S, Kakavand M, Mahmoodzade R. Assessment of patients’ awareness of their rights in teaching hospitals in Iran. Med Sci Law 2015;56(3):178-183. doi: 10.1177/0025802415605536.
19. Khalaf SK, Al-Asadi JN, Abed AH, Shami SA, Al-Shammary H. Assessment of patients’ knowledge and awareness about their rights and duties. Kufa J Nurs Sci 2014;4(3):1-11.
20. Habib FM, Al-Siber HS. Assessment of awareness and source of information of patients’ rights: a cross-sectional survey in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. Am J Res Comm 2013;1(2):1-9.
21. Agrawal U. Awareness of patients’ rights among inpatients of a tertiary care teaching hospital: a cross-sectional study. J Clin Diagn Res 2017; 11(9):1-6. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2017/24961.