EVALUATION OF PARENTS’ SATISFACTION WITH PEDIATRIC CARE AT FAMILY MEDICINE CENTERS IN BISHKEK, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC: A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED STUDY

IBRAIMOVA A, VISHNIAKOV D.V, KUMAR E.SH.

Key words:

PARENTS SATISFACTION, QUALITY OF PEDIATRIC CARE, PRIMARY HEALTHCARE

Abstract:

Introduction: Parental satisfaction has been identified as a successful way to assess the quality of care for pediatric patients and is linked to improved health outcomes. This study aimed at assessment of parental satisfaction with pediatric care provided to their children at six public hospitals in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic, using a questionnaire-based survey.Materials and Methods: In the following qualitative study, a total of 500 questionnaires were distributed among parents of children treated at six public hospitals in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic, by randomized study. The main research question of the study is stated as follows: How satisfied are parents with the quality of pediatric care at Family Medicine Centers in Bishkek? The validated survey questionnaire used in the study included questions related to various aspects of care, such as waiting time, infrastructure, doctor's attitude and competence, communication, and satisfaction with doctor's communication with a child. Out of 500, 202 responses (40,4% response rate) were received from 192 mothers and 10 fathers. The low response rate can be linked to a shortage of time of parents, unwillingness to stay longer in hospital premises, and reluctance to participate in survey. The parents age ranged between 20 and 40 years old, and the children's age ranged from 1 to 15 years old. Male children accounted for 52.5%, and the parents visits to the Family Medicine Center ranged from one- two times a month to one-two times in three months.

Results: The waiting period between 5 and 15 minutes was the most common among the parents. The satisfaction levels of parents with the infrastructure and organization and the qualifications of medical staff and doctors in the Family Medicine Centers also showed significant differences in all the factors analyzed. This study showed that parental satisfaction with pediatric care provided to their children at six public hospitals (FMCs) in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic, needs improvement, especially in terms of competence, communication skills, and friendliness of medical staff and doctors. Further measures need to be taken to improve the infrastructure and organization of Family Medicine Centers to meet the expectations and needs of parents.Pediatric care is a critical component of healthcare systems, and parents' satisfaction with pediatric care is an important indicator of the quality of healthcare services.