Experiences of Patients Attending Outpatient Clinic on Out-of-Pocket Spending in University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Ondo Complex, Ondo State

Abstract

Abstract: This study explored the experiences of patients attending out-patient clinic on out-of-pocket spending in University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo, Ondo State. A qualitative research design was utilized. Twenty adult patients (of which saturation was reached) in General Outpatient Department (GOPD) and Surgical Outpatient Department (SOPD) were selected by random sampling technique. Excerpts from interview were analyzed giving well remarkable response to the research questions using the content analysis approach. Findings from this study revealed that majority of the respondents were above 40years of age. Regarding their occupation, about two-fifth are traders. Almost all the respondents claim not to have a health insurance although, more than half had university education. Patients perceived out of pocket spending as a financial burden as they sometimes delay or forgo a medical care due to financial concerns. This has been noticed to direct impact on the adherence of patient to treatment plans and their physical and mental well-being. They also suggested that health system should make medications affordable and free, healthcare care workers should have better pay and motivated. Hence, Government and hospitals health insurance agency needs to strengthen efforts in implementing strategies that accelerate the enrollment of the community into health insurance schemes, expand social health insurance schemes, and expend other coping mechanisms. Keywords: Out-of-Pocket, Spending, Patient, Perceived,