DETERMINANT OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ON EFFECTIVE PATIENT CARE. (A CASE STUDY OF GENERAL HOSPITAL IKOT EKPENE)
ABSTRACT
This study focuses on how the characteristics of healthcare personnel influence effective patient care. A case study of General Hospital Ikot Ekpene in the Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. The study's precise objectives were to investigate the qualities of healthcareworkers that influence excellent patient care. Other goals were to evaluate the role of healthcareproviders in providing successful patient care, to investigate issues that affect healthcareproviders in providing effective patient care, and to assess patient levels. Satisfaction with services provided to them. We evaluate the healthcare system's standards to ensure patients receive effective care. To meet the study's specific purpose, certain related literature was evaluated. The study employed a sample size of 120 participants and used a simple random sampling technique to select valid data from this group. The questionnaires were examined and analysed with tables and basic percentages. The study's findings revealed that healthcareprofessionals' duties in effective patient care include providing diagnostic services to patients, as well as storing and retrieving patients' health information for continuity of treatment. The study also demonstrates that issues such as a poor working environment, insufficient equipment and tools, and an excessive workload due to inadequate personnel hinder healthcare workers' ability to provide effective health care services to patients. It was recommended that there be a good public relations system in place to facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers, as well as a good working environment to ensure effective patient care, and that adequate healthcareproviders be employed in healthcare organisations to alleviate the burden on healthcare providers.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Certification - - - - - - - - - i
Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - ii
Dedication - - - - - - - - - iii
Abstract – – – – – – – – iv
Table of Contents – – – – – – – – v
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background of the Study – – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem - - - - - - 3
1.3 Objective of the Study - - - - - - 4
1.4 Research Questions - - - - - - - 4
1.5 Scope of the Study – – – – – – – 5
1.6 Significance of the Study - - - - - - 5
1.7 Operational Definition of Terms - - - - - 6
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 7
2.2 Characteristics of Healthcare Providers - - - - 7
2.2.1 Health Providers Characteristics – – – – – 8
2.2.2 Characteristics of Exemplary healthcare Providers as a Team – 10
2.3 Quality/Effective Health Care Delivery - - - - 10
2.3.1 Effective Health Care Delivery - - - - - 12
2.4 Factors Influencing Healthcare Delivery - - - - 13
2.5 Patient Satisfaction and Quality Healthcare Services – – – 14
2.5.1 Factors Influencing Patient Satisfaction - - - - 14
2.6 Roles of the Healthcare Providers on Effective Patient Care – 15
2.6.1 Professional Roles Play by Health Providers - - - 16
2.7 Barriers/Challenges on Effective Patient Care - - - 17
2.7.1 Lack of Advancement Opportunities – – – – – 18
2.7.2 Work Overload - - - - - - - 18
2.7.3 Poor Salary - - - - - - - 19
2.7.4 Poor Organizational Culture – – – – – – 19
2.7.5 Lack of Monitoring – – – – – – – 19
2.7.6 Not Enough Time with Patient - - - - - 19
2.7.7 Lack of Training – – – – – – – 20
2.7.8 Limited or not Enough Equipment and Access to Technology – 20
2.7.9 Poor Personal Fit with Boss – – – – – – 20
2.8 Need for Training among Healthcare Provider in Healthcare
Delivery System – – – – – – 20
2.8.1 Component of Training – – – – – – 22
2.8.1.1 Training is Planned and Organized - - - - - 22
2.8.1.2 Training is a Process - - - - - - - 22
2.8.1.3 Training develops Ability - - - - - - 22
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 23
3.2 Research Design - - - - - - - 23
3.3 Population of the Study – – – – – – 23
3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Technique - - - - 24
3.5 Data Collection Instrument - - - - - - 24
3.6 Reliability and Validity of Instrument - - - - 24
3.7 Data Collection Procedure – – – – – – 24
3.8 Method of Data Analysis - - - - - - 25
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 26
4.2 Data of Respondents Socio-Demographic Data – – – 26
4.3 Analysis of Findings – – – – – – – 30
4.4 Discussion of Analysis - - - - - - 34
CHAPTER FIVE:
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 36
5.2 Summary - - - - - - - - 36
5.3 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 36
5.4 Recommendation – – – – – – – 37
References -------38
Appendixes --------39
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background of the Study
Healthcare is the preservation or enhancement of human health through the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental disabilities (Wikipedia, 2025). Healthcare is provided by professionals (providers or practitioners) in allied health disciplines. Healthcare providers are usually defined as health professionals within their respective fields of competence; practitioners are frequently classified based on skill level and speciality. Health professionals or providers are highly competent workers in professions that typically demand substantial expertise, such as preventive, curative, promotional, or rehabilitative healthcare services for patients. These healthcare services are delivered by physicians, physician assistants, dentists, midwives, radiographers, health information managers, registered nurses, chemists, physiotherapists, optometrists, operating room practitioners, and other allied health workers (Wikipedia, 2025). Most healthcare providers understand the medical aspects of patient care. This understanding is based on the level of medical and technical skills, equipment, and quality assurance procedures in use. Effective healthcare raises healthcare quality by giving the greatest available information on the outcomes, benefits and dangers, and appropriateness of pharmaceuticals, equipment, healthcare professionals (providers), patients, policymakers, and healthcare systems (ScienceDirect, 2024).
As a result, to achieve the goal of providing effective healthcare to patients, healthcare professionals must play an important role in creating specific criteria for the provision of healthcare services. Infrastructure, training quality, personnel competence, and operational system efficiency primarily determine the quality of patient care (ScienceDirect, 2024).
Healthcare operations are massive, and they are carried out in accordance with established rules and ethics that are binding on practitioners and enforced by law courts in the event of a dispute. Healthcare providers are the foundation of our healthcare system, ensuring the comfort of the sick (ScienceDirect, 2024). A professional with superb traits is not only a wonderful person but also an amazing worker in his or her sector and will be subject to administration. Some attributes may be required in order for a person to perform effectively. It is suggested that those interested in a healthcare career have the following characteristics: good communication skills, emotional stability, compassion, adaptability to work hours, detail-orientated, good interpersonal skills, physical endurance, critical thinking, alertness, and respectfulness. These days, a single health provider rarely treats patients. In the setting of a complex healthcare system, effective cooperation is critical for patient safety and response because it reduces adverse occurrences caused by miscommunication with those caring for the patient and misunderstanding of roles and duties. Patients are obviously interested in their treatment and should be involved in the communication process; their early and active participation has also been proved to reduce errors and potential adverse effects. Good healthcare practitioners are effective communicators; they can actually listen to their patients and deliver information regarding diagnosis and therapy in an understandable manner. Good healthcare practitioners are humanistic, which means they are always willing to prioritise their patients' needs (ScienceDirect, 2024). A patient must be confident in their physician's ability and feel comfortable confiding in him or her. Most physicians value the ability to create a solid rapport with their patients. Some medical specialities, such as psychiatry and family medicine, place a greater emphasis on the physician-patient interaction than others, including pathology and radiology, which have less contact with patients. Both parties value the quality of the patient-doctor interaction (ScienceDirect, 2024). The standard medical practice for demonstrating respect to patients and their families is for the doctor to be truthful when educating the patient about their condition and to be forthright in obtaining the patient's agreement before administering therapy. The process of turn-taking between healthcare providers and patients has a significant impact on their connection. In most cases, a doctor will enter the room where the patient is being detained and ask a series of questions about the patient's history, examination, and diagnosis. These are frequently the cornerstone of the doctor-patient connection, as this is the first interaction they have together, and it can have a significant impact on the future relationship throughout the patient's care (ScienceDirect, 2024). According to the Council of Accountability Physician Practices (CAPP), patient-provider relationships have recently emerged as a critical component of quality healthcare. Consumers believe that patient-provider interactions are the most significant aspect of quality care (ScienceDirect, 2024). Building a quality provider relationship requires a provider to satisfy the needs of each unique patient. Patients often choose a practitioner that is informed, listens to their concerns, explains medical ideas clearly and in layman's terms, and spends as much time as necessary during care (ScienceDirect, 2024). Good healthcare workers also have a strong sense of service, desiring to make people feel better, improve healthcare, and, in many cases, contribute to their communities. Above all, successful healthcare practitioners are driven by a strong sense of professionalism. They uphold the timeless ideals of medicine with honesty and honour (ScienceDirect, 2024).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The purpose of healthcare is to provide high-quality medical resources to all those in need, i.e. patients. That is to ensure a high quality of life to avoid illness and extend one's life expectancy. All patients in healthcare facilities want health treatment that is both effective and satisfying. Effective healthcare service to patients is becoming increasingly limited, particularly in secondary healthcare, where the quality of care is heavily reliant on the care providers. Healthcare professionals play a vital role in providing excellent healthcare services to their patients. As a result, there are some features that regulate healthcare practitioners in the provision of healthcare services, and failure to comply with their varied professional ethics and practices will result in medical malpractice, negligence, and, ultimately, ineffective patient care. Noncompliance with professional ethics leads to misconduct and poor patient care. Some healthcare providers are not familiar with their professional ethics, which means they are unaware of the ethics that govern their profession and are not led by principles that may assist them in demonstrating excellent traits during patient care. Thus, if healthcareworkers exhibit positive attributes, patient treatment will be effective.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The main objective of the study is to examine the characteristics of healthcare providers on effective patient care, while the specific objectives include
1. To determine the roles of healthcare providers in effective patient care.
2. To examine problems affecting healthcare providers in providing effective patient care.
3. To assess the level of patient satisfaction in services rendered to them.
4. To evaluate the standards in the healthcare system that lead to effective healthcare for patients.
1.4 Research Questions
1. What are the roles of healthcareproviders in effective patient care?
2. What are the problems affecting healthcare providers in providing effective healthcareto the patient?
3. What is the level of satisfaction patients have in services rendered to them?
4. What standards in healthcare contribute to providing effective care for patients?
1.5 Scope of the Study
This research work is conducted at General Hospital Ikot Ekpene, a secondary healthcare facility in Akwa Ibom State that is bounded by Obot Okara to the South, Ikono to the West, the State capital Uyo to the East, and Essien Udim to the North.
We used health professionals such as health information managers, doctors and nurses, pharmacists, and Laboratory Scientists for the research. The total staff population is 28, but the research utilised 120 samples that include both males and females from various departments.
1.6 Significance of the Study
Here is a summary of the study's significance:
1. The study is necessary, as it would be useful for the healthcare providers to know their importance and roles in providing healthcare to the patient and that their good characteristics will bring about effective healthcare delivery to the patient.
2. The results of the study will encourage patients by demonstrating that healthcare providers and the healthcare system as a whole consistently strive to deliver effective services and foster strong relationships and trust with patients.
3. The outcome of the study will be useful to the health policy maker to enforce laws pertaining to health care providers, especially laws on favourable characteristics among health care providers inpatient care in Nigeria.
4. The finding in the study could, among other things, serve as a source of information or reference materials to any future researcher and student on the topic or related field in different settings.
1.7 Operational Definition of Terms
⦁ Characteristics: A feature or quality belonging typically to a person, people or thing and serving to identify them.
⦁ Health: A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing for an individual, not merely in the absence of disease or infirmity.
⦁ Healthcare: This is the maintenance or improvement of health via the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans.
⦁ Health care Providers: A health care provider is an individual who systematically provides preventive, curative, promotional, or rehabilitative healthcare services to people, families, or communities.
Reference
ScienceDirect. (2024). An overview of healthcare services is provided. In Encyclopedia of Engineering
ScienceDirect. (2024). The health-related aspects of healthcare quality hold significant importance. Journal of Healthcare Quality, 44(5), 270–283.
Wikipedia. (2025). Health care. Retrieved June 23, 2025, from https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care
Wikipedia. (2025). The topic under discussion is Allied health professions. Retrieved June 23, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_health_professions
Wikipedia. (2025). Patient safety. Retrieved June 23, 2025, from https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_safety
Wikipedia. (2025). Preventive healthcare. Retrieved June 23, 2025, from https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preventive_healthcare
Wikipedia. (2025). Medical ethics. Retrieved June 23, 2025, from https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_ethics
Wikipedia. (2025). Doctor–patient relationship. Retrieved June 23, 2025, from https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor%E2%80%93patient_relationship
Wikipedia. (2025). The field of healthcare involves communication. Retrieved June 23, 2025, from https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication_in_healthcare
Wikipedia. (2025). Healthcare provider. Retrieved June 23, 2025, from https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_provider
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