Are patients and healthcare providers satisfied with health sector reform implemented in family health centres?

BACKGROUND Patients' and healthcare providers' satisfactions are important outcomes for any healthcare programmes. In Egypt, the Health Sector Reform Program (HSRP) has been implemented since 1999 in primary healthcare (PHC) centres adopting the family health approach. OBJECTIVES To assess the clients' satisfaction towards the overall health services provided by health centres affiliated to HSRP and to evaluate the satisfaction of healthcare providers, physicians, nurses and social workers. METHODOLOGY Four reformed PHC units were compared with four non-reformed units in the Alexandria governorate regarding patients' and providers' satisfactions. Assessment of the satisfaction was done using survey questionnaire and focus group discussion. The provider survey questionnaire was carried out on all providers working in the selected units. Focus group discussion was done in one reformed health unit and another non-reformed unit. RESULTS The current study showed that providers in the reformed PHCs were more satisfied than providers in non-reformed PHCs regarding availability of equipments, job satisfaction and income satisfaction. No significant differences were noticed between both groups regarding social relations with either colleagues or directors. The patient satisfaction was higher in accredited family health units compared to non-accredited units in all aspects: cleanness, doctors and nurses, waiting area and waiting time. During the focus group discussion, patients in the accredited PHCs expressed their satisfaction regarding the cleanness, privacy, attitude of doctors and nurses as well the waiting area and waiting time. CONCLUSION Implemented HSRP in PHC units has had positive implications regarding patients' and providers' satisfactions in most areas studied.