Assessment Of Out-Patient Waiting Time In A Dental Health Service Of A Dental College- A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background – The health care services provided and measures taken by the organizations to manage and improve it, is one of the factor for patient’s satisfaction. The management of the health care units in providing service and taking care of patient’s waiting time in outpatient unit is also important. Patient satisfaction in dental schools and hospitals can also get affected by the management of these factors like registration process, waiting time for the treatment etc. Thus, the aim of the study was to analyse the outpatient waiting time of new patients attending Sinhgad Dental College & Hospital, Pune.

Materials and method- A cross sectional analytical observational questionnaire based study was conducted at the Sinhgad dental college and hospital in Pune over a period of two months. 180 participants were randomly selected from the dental clinics. The participants were interviewed by the investigator personally at the outpatient department (OPD) using a questionnaire.

Results – All the respondents showed a strongly agree, agree or neutral response. The present study showed the mean time required to wait before registration was 1.96min, for new registration was seen to be 3.20min, before primary consultation was about 5.47min and for primary consultation was 10.81min.

Conclusion – It can be concluded that in the present study most of the patients were satisfied with waiting time and primary consultation unit provided at Sinhgad dental college and hospital, Pune.