Effects of inflow of inpatients attendants at a tertiary care hospital--a study at civil hospital Karachi.

OBJECTIVE To assess the trend of attendants accompanying inpatients and its effect on a tertiary care hospital in Karachi. METHODS A cross sectional study was carried out at CHK, through interview-based questionnaires targeting three groups of interest viz. patients admitted in the wards and stable enough to answer questions appropriately, attendants residing at CHK premises and heads of hospital departments or administrative Resident Medical Officers. RESULTS Out of 281 patients, 149 (53.03%) had only one attendant staying with them, 74 (26.34%) had two, 39 (13.88%) had more than two and 19 (6.76%) had none. Out of 240 attendants, 204 (85%) planned to stay within the hospital till discharge of their patient while 24 (10%) till a week and 12 (5%) for two weeks. Out of 21 administrative heads, 18 (85.71%) faced problems due to presence of extra attendants and 3 (14.29%) did not. However, all 21 (100%) agreed that there were risks associated with presence of too many attendants; which were financial burden 13 (61.9%), infections 14 (66.67%), physical violence 11 (52.38%), disturbance of hospital sanctity 13 (61.91%), and crimes 10 (47.62%). CONCLUSION Our study suggested that there was a significant trend for patients to be accompanied by multiple attendants at CHK. Although hospital did not have to provide food and shelter to them, but their presence in large numbers was in violation to hospital protocols. In view of the hospital administration multiple attendants caused hindrance in duties of staff and posed infections and security risks.