Assessing Citizens’ Trust in Public Healthcare: a Study of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in the Western Region of Ghana

Abstract

What explains trust in healthcare and how do public health facilities ensure they are trusted by citizens. This research explores how institutional factors as well as individual dispositions, affect the trust reposed in the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital (ENRH). This research uses a qualitative method of gathering data from four (4) focus group (with 8 respondents each) discussions with citizens who have assessed healthcare from ENRH, and ten (10) in- depth interviews with purposely selected respondents. The respondents for the indepth interviews represent the core (key) people to the delivery of healthcare at ENRH. From the findings, the research reveals staff attitude, particularly of nurses as being of major concern to citizens and potentially affecting their level of trust. The research also revealed that citizens will generally opt for an alternate source of healthcare if they have the financial wit. There is ironically, an unwavering acknowledgement of ENRH as the optimum in the delivery of public healthcare in the region. The research then suggests the necessity with which government needs to address the concerns of the citizens regarding their assessment of healthcare from ENRH and consequently their level of trust.