Payesh (Jan 2009)
Patient rights: knowledge of managers of private hospitals
Abstract
Objective(s): To determine awareness of managers of private hospitals about patient rights and its effective factors in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among all managers of private hospitals in Tehran (N=35), using a questionnaire including 32 questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistical procedures. Results: The results showed that 23% of managers had good level of awareness. However, 54 % and 23% of them had intermediate and low level of awareness regarding patient rights, respectively. There were four effective factors on awareness of the managers about patient rights including educational degree, discipline, academic institute and training in management. Conclusion: 77% of the managers had less than good level of awareness regarding patient rights. As awareness could be a proxy of consequent behavior, therefore it could be predicted that the managers might perform inadequately in their responsibilities related to patient rights. It seems that there is need to promote awareness on patient rights among hospital managers.