Satisfaction levels and associated influencing factors among inpatients and outpatients with breast cancer at a tertiary health facility in Ghana

Abstract

Objectives: To uncover variables linked to breast cancer patient satisfaction in order to improve policy choices and actions for breast cancer care in Ghana.

Design: We employed a cross-sectional design using a quantitative approach.

Setting: The Radiotherapy, Oncology and Surgery Departments of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra.

Participants: Inpatient and outpatient breast cancer patients.

Main outcome measures: The level of inpatient and outpatient satisfaction was measured using descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. The Shapiro-Wilk test was employed to assess normality, while the Heckman selection model assessed significance with outcomes of interest.

Results: A total of 636 participants, with a mean age of 52.64±14.07 years, were recruited. The measured inpatient and outpatient levels of satisfaction out of 100 were 74.06±7.41 and 49.99±1.00 respectively, while the self-reported satisfaction levels out of 5 were 4.22±0.63 and 4.11±0.85 respectively. The level of inpatient satisfaction was significantly influenced by age, marital status, income level, and number of previous facilities visited (p<0.05). Outpatient satisfaction level was significantly associated with place of residence and income level (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The study offers insight into the satisfaction levels of breast cancer patients receiving inpatient and outpatient services at the largest tertiary referral centre and teaching hospital in Ghana, as well as the factors influencing attendance and satisfaction levels. Understanding and improving breast cancer patients' levels of satisfaction is a way that providers can safeguard their emotional well-being. Improvement in patient satisfaction at our institution among outpatients is an area for future growth.

Funding: Gardner-Holt Women's Health Grant program, Centre for Global Surgery 2021.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Ghana; KBTH; inpatients; outpatients; satisfaction level.