Calculating Consultation Time by Mobile Phone and Comparing to Perceiving Time in Primary Health Centers in Erbil City

Abstract

Background: The consultation time reflects the level of responsiveness of the health care system. If the time is too short, the risk of misdiagnosis and mistreatment will increase. The consultation time in primary health care centers of Iraq is not measured by any formal institution Because of the lack of governmental monitoring on the services that are introduced by these primary health care centers.

Methods: The type of our study is cross sectional study; our research is conducted in three primary health centers in Erbil city. We chose 187 patient and the data collected by use questionnaires method and mobile to facilitate our work.

Results: Overall average consultation time was 2:28 min in primary health care centers of Erbil city, we found in PHCC1 was 2:58 min, PHCC2 0:58 min, PHCC3 4:02 minute Perceived time was more than actual consultation time and patient satisfactions were increase with more consultation time.

Conclusion: Consultation time in primary health care centers in Erbil city is extremely short in spite of the high percent of patient’s satisfaction.