Operational efficiency and out-of-pocket expenditure in attendees of anti-rabies vaccination: A time and motion study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Throughout the world, many healthcare settings have started using time and motion studies to improve their work pattern and efficiency whose basic purpose is to know the exact time taken in different service delivery points as well as to assess the perception of beneficiaries regarding the total time spent in the Outpatient Department (OPD). The aim of this study is to assess the operational efficiency as well as the satisfaction of patients attending the anti rabies vaccination (ARV) OPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a referral teaching hospital from 1(st) July to 31(st) August 2021. The study population comprised of animal bite patients attending the hospital. Data was collected using a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire and a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The majority of patients were female, i.e., 811 (56.3%), and were between 15 to 30 years of age, i.e., 439 (30.5%). Maximum time was spent by patients in the OPD on Mondays. The mean time spent at Niramaya by new cases was 14.80 ± 6.09 minutes, whereas the same was 0.23 ± 1.89 minutes for follow-up cases. More than half of the respondents, i.e., 56.3% and 55.9%, found the time spent at consultation and the pace of registration to be satisfactory, respectively. CONCLUSION: Decentralization of registration counters is much needed to provide quality services to the patients.