The perception of professionals and users of the quality of care and respect for human rights in four outpatient care facilities of an Italian hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: During the Covid-19 pandemic, delays in providing medical services, dissatisfaction, criticism toward health workers (HW) and the risk of burnout of HW in Italy have been documented. No studies have contrasted the point of view of HW and users on the quality of care and respect for human rights in health facilities. OBJECTIVE: To compare the perception of users of their satisfaction with the care provided with the perception of HW of their satisfaction with work as well as the perception of the respect of HW “s and users” human rights. METHODS: The “Well-Being at work and respect for human rights questionnaire” (WWRR) was administered on a sample of users (142) and HW (154) in four outpatient health care facilities of a hospital in Sardinia, Italy. RESULTS: Users showed higher scores than HW on their satisfaction with the care received (p < 0.0001), the perception of respect for their human rights (p < 0.0001), and availability of resources for care (p < 0.0001). The HW scores were higher than 50% of the maximum in all items, but a relatively low score was reported on the HW’s satisfaction of the resources and the respect for their rights. CONCLUSION: The satisfaction for care and respect for human rights in the outpatient health services was higher than expected. The relatively low score by the HWs in relation to the satisfaction with the resources and perception of respect for their human rights could be a wake-up call. The study does not involve emergency rooms, wards, or Covid units.