Patient satisfaction on the utilization of traditional and complementary medicine services at public hospitals in Malaysia. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaur, Jaspal; Hamajima, Nobuyuki; Yamamoto, Eiko; Saw, Yu Mon; Kariya, Tetsuyoshi; Soon, Goh Cheng; Amin, Ariyani; Halim, Adilla Nur; Aziz, Farhana Abdul; Sharon, Suraya Hani
• Is Part Of: Complementary therapies in medicine. Volume 42(2019)
• Page Start: 422
• Page End: 428
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Traditional medicine -- Complementary -- Medicine -- Alternative medicine -- Integration -- Healthcare service -- Patient satisfaction; Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; Complementary Therapies -- Periodicals; Médecines parallèles -- Périodiques; Thérapeutique -- Périodiques; Alternative medicine; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-2299

Abstract

Highlights: First paper to be published that projects the ongoing efforts by Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia in providing safe integrated care within the public hospitals in Malaysia. Belief in the potential benefits of traditional medicine has been ingrain among many Malaysians due to strong cultural influence despite the diverse ethnic community in Malaysia. Constant need to seek an alternative option when faced with an illness or for health maintenance has presently led to the boom of a private driven T&CM industry in Malaysia. Acknowledging the demand of the public for integrative care, MOH Malaysia has taken measures to look into the quality and safety in the T&CM care provided to public. The public health sector in Malaysia has a vast outreach through its mission of providing high quality health system for all Malaysians. This study projects the interest and opinion of the public in further expansion of T&CM services within the public sector in Malaysia. Abstract: Background: Traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) has been integrated into the Malaysian public healthcare system since the establishment of the first T&CM unit at a public hospital in 2007. Assessing patient satisfaction is a vital component of health service evaluation. The main objective of this study is to determine the level of patient satisfaction with the utilization of T&CM services at public hospitals in Malaysia and assess the sociodemographic influence on the overall reporting of satisfaction. This study also aims to analyze the response of the patients towards expansion of T&CM services in the public sector in Malaysia. Materials and methods: A study was conducted to analyze data on the utilization of T&CM services within public hospitals. Secondary data on 822 patients' satisfaction with services offered at 15 T&CM units was analyzed to examine the overall levels of satisfaction with T&CM services in public hospitals in Malaysia. Results: Overall, 99.4% of patients were satisfied with T&CM services and most patients (91.8%) felt that T&CM treatment positively impacted their health. Overall satisfaction was not affected by lower levels of satisfaction with subcategories of service, such as the number of treatment sessions received (90.7% satisfied), date to the next appointment (90.7% satisfied), and the absence of adverse effects of treatment received (87.1% satisfied). There were no significant associations between the socioeconomic status of the respondents and the level of satisfaction reported; however, respondents with a monthly salary of Ringgit Malaysia (RM) 1000 to RM 3000 were more than twice as likely to be strongly satisfied with services received (adjusted odds ratios [AOR]: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.19–3.78). Conclusion: This study revealed a high level of satisfaction among patients who had received T&CM treatment at public hospitals in Malaysia. High satisfaction with T&CM treatment validates the integrative management approach adopted in patient care within the public hospitals in Malaysia.