By Amachree, Esther Numoipre
Quality is considered as the cornerstone of success for any organization and a key factor for the sustainable competitive advantages. Quality healthcare is a subjective, complex and multi-dimensional concept. This study investigated Factors Influencing Provision of Quality Services in Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Four objectives and four research questions were raised to guide the study. A descriptive survey design was employed and study populations of 630 comprising all professional Nurses (330), Medical Officers (150), Laboratory Scientists/Technicians (78), Pharmacists (48) and 24 Health Information Officers working in F.M.C. Yenagoa during the study period were used. Using power analysis, a sample size of 263 was determined. Stratified and simple random sampling procedures were used to draw subjects from the various categories of care providers into the study. A researcher developed structured questionnaire was used as the instrument of data collection. Five research assistants who were instructed on the purpose of the study and how to use the questionnaire to collect data from the respondents were utilized for the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and presented on tables. All analyses were performed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), version 21(IBM SPSS 21). Decision rule was based on mean score of 2.5,mean score of 2.5 and above was accepted as positive response while mean score below 2.5 was accepted as negative response. Findings revealed that the respondents affirmed with the overall mean of 2.44 (±0.89) that influence of personnel on service delivery is negative (inadequate) leading to poor quality service delivery. They also affirmed with the overall mean of 2.41(±0.84) that influence of financial resource is negative (inadequate) resulting in poor quality service delivery. The respondents also perceived with the overall mean of 2.32 (±0.79) that influence of organizational factors on service delivery is negative which causes inadequate service delivery in the hospital. On the influence of application of modern technologies on quality service delivery, the overall mean value is 2.06 (±0.87) below the decision score of 2.5, hence was found to be negative on quality care. Based on the findings the study concluded that employee capacity, financial resources, organizational factors and application of modern technology have a great influence on quality service delivery. Therefore the following recommendations were made, hospital management should employ more healthcare professionals, allocate financial resources to each department, create conducive environment for staff and patients and finally there is need to invest and improve on information technology equipment so as to aid quality healthcare service delivery.