What are the major factors influencing patients' decision in queuing up for registration in a General Out-Patient Clinic attached to a regional hospital?
Author(s)
Author(s)
Ng, L. V.
Kam, C.-W.
Ng, P. T. K.
Chong, S. Y. C.
Shek, J. K. P.
Chan, S. C. K.
Date Issued
2009
Publisher
The Hong Kong College of Family Physicians
Journal
The Hong Kong Practitioner
Volume
31
Issue
4
Start page
176
End page
185
Abstract
Objective: To describe the characteristics of patients queuing up for registration in the General Out-Patient Clinic (GOPC) of Kwong Wah Hospital. 2) To explore the reasons for queuing up in a GOPC for registration. 3) To explore patients’preference of the different methods to obtain registration.
Design: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Subjects: 898 patients were successfully interviewed by random recruitment of those who had walked-in registration for medical consultation in Kwong Wah Hospital GOPC during the period from 1stMarch 2006 to 30TH September 2006. Main outcome measures: Data included the basic demographic data, queuing time, reasons for selecting the time to start queuing, reasons for choosing GOPC KWH and the preferred method of getting registration. Results: 61.8% had queued up for more than 2 hours in order to obtain registration. The main reasons for respondents choosing the time to start queuing were fear of not getting a registration number (41.2%), preference for morning registration (17.4%), and intention to go home earlier after consultation (10.8%). The main reasons for choosing GOPC KWH were close proximity of the clinic to their residence (28.3%) and the medical provision was free (27.2%). 42.1% preferred to have pre-scheduled appointment booking system for patients with chronic illnesses. 37.4% would like to try one day advanced telephone booking. Conclusion: Provision of different modes of booking and appointment procedures might be more appropriate to meet the needs of patients.
Design: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Subjects: 898 patients were successfully interviewed by random recruitment of those who had walked-in registration for medical consultation in Kwong Wah Hospital GOPC during the period from 1stMarch 2006 to 30TH September 2006. Main outcome measures: Data included the basic demographic data, queuing time, reasons for selecting the time to start queuing, reasons for choosing GOPC KWH and the preferred method of getting registration. Results: 61.8% had queued up for more than 2 hours in order to obtain registration. The main reasons for respondents choosing the time to start queuing were fear of not getting a registration number (41.2%), preference for morning registration (17.4%), and intention to go home earlier after consultation (10.8%). The main reasons for choosing GOPC KWH were close proximity of the clinic to their residence (28.3%) and the medical provision was free (27.2%). 42.1% preferred to have pre-scheduled appointment booking system for patients with chronic illnesses. 37.4% would like to try one day advanced telephone booking. Conclusion: Provision of different modes of booking and appointment procedures might be more appropriate to meet the needs of patients.
SFU Affiliated Publication
No
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