Gap analysis of service quality and associated factors at the oncology center of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2022: a cross-sectional study

Objective To measure the gap between expectations of patients with cancer for oncology services and their perceptions of the actual service and to identify associated factors at the oncology centre of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia.Design An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted using the service quality (SERVQUAL) tool from March to April 2022 on a sample of 256 hospitalised patients with cancer at the oncology centre of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. A paired Wilcoxon test and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine the statistically significant difference between expectation and perception and to quantify the strength of association between the level of gap in the quality of oncology service and dependent variables, respectively.Results Out of 256 patients with cancer included in the study, all of them agreed and participated, making the response rate 100%. The overall gap in service quality explained by the mean and SD is −1.42 (±0.41). The overall score for expectation and perception is 4.24 (±0.31) and 2.82 (±0.37), respectively. Being female, age greater than 65, having a college degree and above, being a patient with cervical cancer, patients with stage 4 cancer and patients who waited for more than 12 months for radiotherapy were found to have a statistically significant higher expectation compared with their perceived care in one or more dimensions of the SERVQUAL tool.Conclusion Patient perceptions of the quality of service they received were lower than their expectations of the quality of service in all service quality aspects at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital’s oncology centre, implying unmet quality expectations from the oncology service users, with tangibility, assurance and empathy being the dimensions with the highest gap recorded, respectively. Therefore, the hospital and other stakeholders should strive to exceed patient expectations and the overall quality of care

Drug-resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains and associated risk factors among multi drug-resistant tuberculosis suspected patients from Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND:Multidrug drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major health problem and seriously threatens TB control and prevention efforts globally. Ethiopia is among the 30th highest TB burden countries for MDR-TB with 14% prevalence among previously treated cases. The focus of this study was on determining drug resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among MDR-TB suspected cases and associated risk factors. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa from June 2015 to December 2016. Sputum samples and socio-demographic data were collected from 358 MDR-TB suspected cases. Samples were analyzed using Ziehl-Neelsen technique, GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay, and culture using Lowenstein-Jensen and Mycobacterial growth indicator tube. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. RESULTS:A total of 226 the study participants were culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, among them, 133 (58.8%) participants were males. Moreover, 162 (71.7%) had been previously treated for tuberculosis, while 128 (56.6%) were TB/HIV co-infected. A majority [122 (54%)] of the isolates were resistant to any first-line anti-TB drugs. Among the resistant isolates, 110 (48.7%) were determined to be resistant to isoniazid, 94 (41.6%) to streptomycin, 89 (39.4%) to rifampicin, 72 (31.9%) to ethambutol, and 70 (30.9%) to pyrazinamide. The prevalence of MDR-TB was 89 (39.4%), of which 52/89 (58.4%) isolates were resistance to all five first-line drugs. Risk factors such as TB/HIV co-infection (AOR = 5.59, p = 0.00), cigarette smoking (AOR = 3.52, p = 0.045), alcohol drinking (AOR = 5.14, p = 0.001) hospital admission (AOR = 3.49, p = 0.005) and visiting (AOR = 3.34, p = 0.044) were significantly associated with MDR-TB. CONCLUSIONS:The prevalence of MDR-TB in the study population was of a significantly high level among previously treated patients and age group of 25-34. TB/HIV coinfection, smoking of cigarette, alcohol drinking, hospital admission and health facility visiting were identified as risk factors for developing MDR-TB. Therefore, effective strategies should be designed considering the identified risk factors for control of MDR-TB

Drug resistance pattern in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates among retreatment and new MDR-TB suspected cases Addis Ababa, January, 2017(n = 226).

<p>Drug resistance pattern in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates among retreatment and new MDR-TB suspected cases Addis Ababa, January, 2017(n = 226).</p

Socio-demographic characteristics of MDR-TB suspected cases and MDR-TB confirmed cases, Addis Ababa, January, 2017(n = 226).

<p>Socio-demographic characteristics of MDR-TB suspected cases and MDR-TB confirmed cases, Addis Ababa, January, 2017(n = 226).</p

The proportion of MDR-TB among suspect cases classified by ethnic groups.

<p>The proportion of MDR-TB among suspect cases classified by ethnic groups.</p

Univariate and multivariate logistic regression result of risk factors for development of MDR-TB, Addis Ababa, January, 2017 (n = 226).

<p>Univariate and multivariate logistic regression result of risk factors for development of MDR-TB, Addis Ababa, January, 2017 (n = 226).</p