Does Insurance Status Influence Outpatient Flow? Cross-Sectional Comparison of Insured and Uninsured Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: While patient satisfaction is a core index for the assessment of health quality, waiting time and payment mode in hospitals could influence outpatients’ flow and as well as their level of satisfaction. Objective: This study compared the waiting time of insured and uninsured patients seeking general outpatient care in a tertiary hospital. Methods: A total of 166 insured and 166 uninsured ambulatory adult patients seeking outpatient services were recruited by systematic random sampling and followed through their consultation at the outpatient clinic. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Science (version 20.0) at a 5% alpha level and power of 80%. Results: There were more males (54.8%) among the insured and more females (53.0%) among the uninsured, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P = .153). There were significant differences in mean total idle time during outpatient visits (md = 65.7 min; 95% CI: 69.1, 162.8; P < .001) and total time spent (md=106.6 min; 95% CI: 204.8, 211.8; P < .001) in favor of insured patients. The time spent during the consultation was not significantly different (md = 0.8 min; 95% CI: 0.2, 1.7; P = .107). The insured patients were significantly more satisfied with the time spent waiting for nurses’ and doctors’ attention ( P < .001). Conclusion: Significant variations exist in the time spent and level of satisfaction with time spent by insured and uninsured ambulatory patients. Findings call for improving efficiency in patient flow management especially for uninsured patients attending outpatient clinics in public hospitals.

The Effect of Mobile Payment on Payment Waiting Time for Outpatients With Medical Insurance: Historically Controlled Study

“…The results of this study were not consistent with some previous findings. The patients' waiting time in our study was shorter than that of insured patients in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria, as reported by Opurum et al [3]. They proposed that there were significant differences in mean total idle time during outpatient visits (65.7 min) and total time spent (106.6 min), and the results favored insured patients.…”

“…The excessive waiting time in outpatient clinics is regarded as a major problem in health care management worldwide [1,2]. Hospital waiting time and payment methods influence outpatient flow and satisfaction [3]. Previous studies have reported that long waiting time for a medical consultation has become an important factor affecting outpatients' satisfaction [4,5].…”

Physicians' Perspectives on the Impact of Insurance Status on Clinical Decision-Making in Saudi Arabia

“…Al-Hanawi et al ventured into this uncharted territory, revealing a noteworthy correlation between insurance coverage and the promptness of medical treatments [4]. This revelation has highlighted the potentially pivotal role of insurance status in shaping the timely delivery of healthcare services [7]. Yet, despite these significant findings, the scholarly landscape continues to grapple with a palpable gap in comprehensive inquiry into the intricate interplay between physicians' perceptions and their navigation of the intricate disparities within the Saudi Arabian healthcare fabric.…”