Nėščiųjų teisės į sveikatos informaciją įgyvendinimo įvertinimas

Abstract

Aim of the study – to assess the implementation of the right to health information of pregnant women and to analyze the differences of its practice between services of general practitioners and obstetricians - gynecologists. Methods. The anonymous survey of women within the third trimester of pregnancy performed since August to December 2004. A sample included 120 pregnant women who were consulted by the general practitioners in the Family Clinics of Kaunas University of Medicine and 124 pregnant women within the consultations with obstetricians - gynecologists in maternity clinic of Dainava health center. Respectively, the response rate was 80% (N=96) in Family Clinics and 82.3% (N=102) in Dainava health center. The right to health information of the pregnant women was evaluated accordingly to actual Lithuanian laws. Results. Less than half of respondents (48.5%) acknowledged the Law on Patients’ Rights and the Reimbursement of Harm. The half of respondents were familiar with ability to copy their medical documents, nearly half of respondents were in part familiar about available services and opportunities to use it. One of four respondents indicated as unsatisfied with medical information during the consultations, while feeling the lack of proper information provided by physicians and rare negotiations about health examination and procedures. One of three respondents stated that physician presented them only the most important aspects of their pregnancy and health status. Some respondents indicated as not informed about potential methods of delivery (25.6%), about natural infant feeding (24.4%), about pain-relief possibilities (29.8%), care of baby (35.9%), different modes of family planning (29.2%) and mostly about potential complications during baby delivery. The data analysis showed that the respondents aged 25 - 29 years old comparing to younger and elderly respondents were better informed about their right to health information. As well the respondents with higher education, married and those who self-evaluated their health as perfect were better informed about the right to health information comparing, respectively, to those with lower education, single or living in couple respondents and worse self-evaluated health status. The respondents who attended to general practitioner comparing with those who attended to obstetricians - gynecologists were more familiar with the service related information as well as with the opportunities to use it, for instance, pain-relief possibilities during the delivery, infant feeding and family planning. Likewise, visitors of general practitioners comparing to visitors of obstetricians - gynecologists were more frequently satisfied with consultations about health examination, medical procedures and provided health information to them in particular health center. Conclusions. 1. The implementation of the right to health information of pregnant women is not sufficient. 2. The opinion of female patients about the implementation of their right to health information depends on their age, education level, marital status and evaluation of self-health status. 3. The institutions of general practitioners realize the right to health information of pregnant women more efficiently comparing to the services of obstetricians - gynecologists.