SCI PATIENTS’ SATISFACTION ABOUT NURSING SERVICE AT NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TRAUMATOLOGY, ORTHOPEDIC REHABILITATION (NITOR) AND CRP HOSPITAL

Abstract

Spinal Cord Lesions are a major public health problem in Bangladesh. Patient satisfaction is an important and commonly used indicator for measuring the quality in health care. Patient satisfaction affects clinical outcomes, patient retention, and medical malpractice claims. It affects the timely, efficient, and patient-centered delivery of quality health care. Patient satisfaction is thus a proxy but a very effective indicator to measure the success of doctors and hospitals. This article discusses as to how to ensure patient satisfaction in dermatological practice. This epidemiological study was undertaken in order to identify the causes of spinal cord lesions and thus to allow prevention and control programs to be developed. The records of 247 patients with spinal cord lesions admitted to The Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Savar, Dhaka from January 1994 to June 1995 were reviewed retrospectively. Comparisons were made with the reports of studies from other countries, both developing and developed. The most common cause of traumatic lesions was a fall from a height followed by falling when carrying a heavy weight on the head and road traffic accidents. Most of the patients were between 20 - 40 years old and the overall age group ranged from 10 - 70 years. The male: female ratio was 7.5: 1.0. Among the traumatic spinal cord lesions, 60% were paraplegics and 40% tetraplegics. Among the non-traumatic spinal cord lesions cases 84% were paraplegics and 16% tetraplegics. The most common age group (10 - 40 years) of patients reflects the socio-economic conditions of Bangladesh. The male: female ratio (7.5: 1.0) of patients with a spinal cord lesion is due to the socio-economic status and to the traditional culture of the society.