The Status of Observing the Charter of Patients’ Rights and Related Factors from the Point of View of Hospitalized Patients

Adherence to patients’ rights is one of the most important ethical issues in the hospital that should be considered. An efficient health system requires active participation and proper interaction between health care recipients and providers.

This study was conducted to determine the status of observing the charter of patients’ rights and related factors from the perspective of hospitalized patients in educational-therapeutic centers in Rasht City, Iran.

The present study was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted on 342 hospitalized patients during discharge in Rasht City in north of Iran educational-therapeutic centers in 2018. The samples were selected by stratified random sampling.  The study instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire with two sections: The first section was related to individual, social, and disease-related information, and the second section to determining the status of the patient’s compliance. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive (Mean±SD) and inferential statistics (The Chi-Square test, Friedman, and logistic regression).

The status of observing the charter of patients’ rights from the patients’ point of view was desirable at 65.8% in general, 85.1% in case of receiving health services, 3.69% in receiving information, 57.6% in the patient’s right to choose and decide freely in receiving health services, 66.7% in providing health services based on the respect for the patient’s privacy and adhering to the principle of confidentiality, and 19% in access to efficient systems to handle complaints. Also, among the variables studied, the only reason for referral (the physician’s recommendation to emergency referral) was related to the status of observance of the charter of patients’ rights and was considered as a predictor (P=0.013), OR 1.9, CI95%; 1.150-3.233).

According on presenting the results to the health service managers, emphasizing the need to observe the charter of patients’ rights by the health system staff, measures can be taken to improve the status of patients’ rights and prevent any violation of their rights, who are considered vulnerable in society.