Measuring and Comparing Service Delivery Time in Government and Outsourced Health Posts Affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Background: The duration of healthcare services has a significant impact on the quality of care and patient's satisfaction. Having information on service delivery time in both government and outsourced Health Posts (HPs) can contribute to evidence-based policymaking and better resource management. Therefore, this study aims to estimate and compare service delivery time in government and outsourced HPs. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in six affiliated HPs under Tehran University of Medical Sciences in ۲۰۱۹–۲۰۲۰. Data were collected through a census using a stopwatch and a time recording form during one working week. The average duration of each service (in minutes) was obtained. The results were reported using descriptive statistics and were analyzed using SPSS۲۴ software and multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The total mean of duration of services provided in government HPs (۷۷۷.۶ minutes) was greater than that in outsourced HPs (۷۸۸.۵ minutes). Among the ۱۰ services provided, the average duration of services for adolescents (۲۰.۴±۴.۵ minutes), young adults (۲۰.۵±۵.۶ minutes), middle-aged adults (۲۶.۱±۱۰.۴ minutes), and elderly individuals (۲۴.۳±۱۳.۶ minutes) in government HPs was significantly longer than in outsourced HPs (p<۰.۰۵). Additionally, the average duration of health education services (۲۳.۱±۱۰.۵ minutes) and health ambassador training (۳۶.۱±۱۳.۷ minutes) in private HPs was significantly longer than in government HPs (p<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: In outsourced HPs, it is important to focus on creating a balance between the number of visits and the staff available for services which target adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults, and elderly individuals. In government HPs, emphasis should be placed on increasing the time allocated for educational and promotional health services. By considering the importance of service delivery time and the observed differences in findings of this study, it is crucial to prioritize the duration of service delivery as an important performance measure when comparing government and outsourced HPs.

Keywords:

Primary Healthcare , Duration , Government Health Post , Outsourced Health Post , Tehran.