Keywords
causes,
satisfaction,
health outcome,
general out-patient department.
How to Cite
Abstract
Prolonged outpatient waiting times represent a health system stressor that undermines One Health objectives by affecting patient well-being, healthcare delivery efficiency, and the safety of care environments. Patient satisfaction critically reflects healthcare quality, with waiting time emerging as a significant determinant. This cross-sectional study examined waiting time causes and their impact on patient satisfaction and health outcomes at General Hospital Minna's Outpatient Department, Niger State. Using validated questionnaires, 98 adult patients (response rate 81.7%) were surveyed through simple random sampling. Results revealed alarming waiting times: 87.8% of patients experienced waits exceeding expectations, with 27.6% waiting over two hours—far exceeding the recommended 30-minute standard. Patients predominantly attributed delays to excessive patient volume (M=3.85) rather than administrative inefficiencies (M=2.13), reflecting Nigeria's overburdened public healthcare system. Correlation analysis demonstrated a statistically significant negative relationship between waiting time and patient satisfaction (r=-.368, p<0.001), with regression analysis showing each waiting time unit increase decreased satisfaction scores by 1.367 units (p=0.002). Unexpectedly, longer waiting times correlated with reduced stress levels (r=-.230, p=0.022), possibly indicating patient adaptation to systemic delays or relief upon receiving care. However, waiting time did not significantly affect perceived health outcomes (p=0.621) or treatment adherence willingness (p=0.783), suggesting sustained trust in healthcare quality despite delays. The findings underscore a critical healthcare capacity crisis where demand overwhelms resources, necessitating fundamental reassessment of patient volume management and resource allocation in resource-constrained settings within a One Health framework.