Quality of Obstetric Services: Perspectives of Patients, Obstetricians, and Midwives

Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the perspectives of patients and health care staff on the quality of obstetric services in an obstetric department.
Material and Methods. This study was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, where 68 obstetricians and midwives and 334 female patients completed anonymous questionnaires. Two different versions of the questionnaire for patients and health care staff were prepared with the aim to compare the results of both groups.
Results. Patients evaluated technical quality of services significantly better than health care staff. Other items were showed to have no significant differences with the exception of sterility of equipment and premises and appearance of physicians. Patients and health care staff had similar opinions about professional relationship between patients and physicians: patients can expect representation of their interests and evaluation of treatment progress. Evaluation of external efficiency revealed that respondents were satisfied with health care and would recommend the current health care institution to their friends and relatives or would use it again when needed.
Conclusions. Patients evaluated technical quality of services significantly better than health care staff. The different perceptions of patients and health care staff about functional quality and external effectiveness of services in most aspects were insignificant.