Polish Journal of Public Health

Introduction. The purpose of majority of health care institutions is providing the patients with comfort and the quality of the medical services, which is especially important during prolonged hospitalization.

Aim. The study presents an analysis of the hospitalization assessment in Silesia Region in public opinion among 4 age groups.

Material and methods. The research was carried out by anonymous polling of 193 people including 109 women and 84 men.

Results. The results indicate that majority of the hospitalized are women in the age over 60 and men from the third age group (45-60). The best impressions associated with hospital treatment were given by the respondents aged 45-60, but men were more satisfied than women (84%, 57%). Surgical treatment was experienced by the biggest number of respondents over 60 years (86% – women, 75% – men) and it wasn’t related with stronger stress. Significant stress was correlated with hospital treatment among patients who had never been hospitalized before and it was generated by fear of surgery and pain. More than a half of all the questioned subjects consider the medical staff as nice and with a sense of duty.

Conclusion. To sum up, the people who had been hospitalized before gave a more-positive opinion about the hospital personnel and social conditions. The stress was mainly connected with the anxiety of surgical treatment, pain and social conditions. Less than a half of all respondents from each group estimated the order and hygienic conditions choosing the most bulleted answer.