The approach taken by the physicians working at educational hospitals in İzmir towards patient rights

ObjectiveConsidered as a reflection of human rights in our modern day, patient rights have been gaining increasing importance. This particular subject has been discussed from various perspectives in different countries and legal sanctions imposed. “Patient Rights Directives” in Turkey came into effect in 1988. The present study was carried out in order to determine how well the physicians working in İzmir, the third largest city of Turkey, are aware and informed of these directives.MethodsOur study is an observational-cross sectional descriptive one. The research was conducted among the physicians working in nine training hospitals in İzmir province using a random sampling method. 1500 questionnaires with 19 multiple-choice questions were distributed in the study. 567 of the forms were returned. Statistical assessment of the data obtained was carried out using the x2 test on SPSS 10.0 Windows Program.ResultsOf the physicians participating in the study, 43% were female and 57% male. The average age was 32 ± 7.76 years. 40% of the participating physicians were not aware of the legal arrangements (directive). 63% of the participants stated that they had not read any kind of legislation related to patients’ rights. Only 34% of the participants knew that the legal sanctions were put into effect in the form of “directive.”ConclusionLegal arrangements related to patient rights in the world are being put into effect within the framework of human rights. Turkey is one of the first countries to have completed the legal procedures in this field.Practice implicationsWe believe it is necessary that this particular issue be included both in the training programs of the medical faculties and supported by all parts of the society including physicians if these legal procedures are to work effectively.