Estimation of Waiting Time and Consultation Duration for Patients in the Outpatient Department of Radiation Oncology at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Uttarakhand, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The Outpatient Department (OPD) holds significant relevance in modern medical care and serves as the “Shop Window” of the hospital. Waiting time serves as a crucial indicator of the quality of OPD services provided by the hospital, as it greatly affects patient satisfaction. Radiation oncology is a clinical specialty that focuses on administering radiation therapy to cancer patients, who seek consultation in the radiation oncology OPD. Aim: To estimate the waiting time and consultation duration for patients in the OPD of radiation oncology at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 1 to August 31, 2022, at the Cancer Research Institute of Himalayan Hospital, which is the affiliated hospital of the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences under the aegis of Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. A total sample size of 300 patients was selected using the simple random sampling technique. Data was collected through direct observation using a data collection sheet. Statistical analysis was performed using the data analysis tool in Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0. Pearson coefficient of correlation (r) and p-value were calculated. Results: The results were analysed based on demographic details, days of the week, patients seen per consultation room, new and follow-up patients, and patient arrival time in the OPD. The majority of patients attending the OPD were in the age group of 50-69 years (60.6%). A total of 256 patients (85%) were follow-up patients. Analysis of the patient arrival pattern revealed that the highest number of patients, 200 (66.7%), arrived between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. The overall mean waiting time was estimated to be 50.43±0.030 minutes, and the mean consultation time was estimated to be 9.53±0.004 minutes. The Pearson coefficient of correlation between the two variables was calculated, revealing a positive correlation with ‘r’ value=0.14 and a statistically significant p-value=0.014 (<0.05). Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights for waiting time and consultation duration in the radiation oncology department's OPD. On average, patients spend approximately 59.96 minutes in the OPD premises. Out of this time, 84.1% is spent waiting, while 15.9% is spent with the consultant. The primary reason for delays in the waiting area is the delayed availability of consultants due to ongoing ward rounds or other academic activities.