Assessing Professional Ethics from the Perspective of Recipients and Service Providers in Hospitals Affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences

Background and purpose: Adherence to the principles of professional ethics in medical groups, in addition to influence patient satisfaction, plays a key role in improving and restoring their health. The aim of this study was to evaluate professional ethics from the perspective of recipients and service providers in hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Materials and methods: This descriptive analytic study was performed in employees (n= 241), patients (n= 309), and managers (n= 25) in Mazandaran province hospitals, Iran, 2019. The sampling methods for patients, staff, and managers were simple random, systematic, and census random, respectively. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The content and face validity of the questionnaire were determined by experts. The construct validity was confirmed by confirming factor analysis and its reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and compound reliability. Data analysis was performed applying descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The mean score for medical ethics was higher from the perspective of staff (4.17±0.64) compared to managers (4.15±0.52) and patients (3.95±0.71) (P <0.05). Communication with colleagues and respecting patient rights were found with the highest and lowest scores (4.34 ± 0.55 and 4.09 ± 0.68, respectively). Conclusion: Medical ethics was favorable in hospitals of Mazandaran province. But, continuous evaluation of different dimensions of medical ethics is needed to identify weaknesses and strengths, thereby making appropriate decisions to provide enhanced services.