Abstract:
Background: The daily provision of hospital food service is still a major problem at governmental hospitals found in Ethiopia that is causing prolonged hospitalization, increased morbidity and mortality due to dissatisfaction by foodservice. Even though foodservice aspects are the most salient influencers of health services satisfaction, the relationships between participant food satisfaction and hospital foodservice are not well studied in governmental hospitals of Ethiopia
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess satisfaction with regular hospital foodservices and associated factors among hospitalized adult participants in comprehensive specialized hospitals of northwest Amhara, Ethiopia
Methods: An institutional based multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted among 1075 hospitalized participants who were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire; it was entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and analyzed using STATA version 14 software. Descriptive statistics was calculated and bivariable and multi-variable logistic regressions were undertaken to see the association between variables. Statistically significant variables were declared using an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval at p-value < 0.05.
Results: The proportion of participant satisfaction with regular hospital foodservices in this study was 49.12% (95% CI: [46.1-52.1%]). Meal flavors (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI: [2.21-4.00]), easily chewable meal (AOR=3.11; 95% CI: [2.36-4.08]) and clean patient room (AOR=2.04; 95% CI: [1.53 - 2.72]) were significantly associated on participant satisfaction with regular hospital foodservices.
Conclusions: The current study concludes that almost half of respondents had good satisfaction with regular hospital foodservice that is higher than the previous study conducted in Wolayita. Improving these identified factors such as meal flavored, easily chewable food and clean patient room can increase the participants’ food satisfaction in the hospital.
