02637nas a2200373   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001500059653001000074653003100084653002300115653002800138653002800166653001100194653001100205653001000216653001200226653000900238653003800247653002200285653002300307653003100330653002200361100001200383700001600395700001600411700001500427245010300442300001100545490000700556050003200563520165400595022001402249       1985                            d  c1985 Oct-Dec10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAmbulatory Care Facilities10aAttitude to Health10aCommunity participation10aDelivery of Health Care10aFemale10aHumans10aIndia10aleprosy10aMale10aPatient Acceptance of Health Care10aPatient Care Team10aPatient Compliance10aPatient Education as Topic10aRandom Allocation1 aKumar A1 aThangavel N1 aDurgambal K1 aSirumban P00aMedical care delivery through leprosy clinics--consumer's perception, experiences and suggestions.  a845-610 v57  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>Randomly selected 500 adult leprosy patients, registered for treatment with six Sectors of a Leprosy Control Unit in Chingleput District of Tamil Nadu (India) were interviewed to study their perception, and experiences with medical care being delivered to them through leprosy clinic(s), and their suggestions to improve the system. About 14% patients did not perceive their disease as leprosy. And 8% of the total patients were taking treatment outside their sector leprosy clinics. The services like physiotherapy, rehabilitation, health education etc. were known to only 3-8% patients, perhaps on account of their non-availability and or non-practice. On an average, a patient had to cover a distance of 2.1 +/- 2.5 KMs (one side) in 24 +/- 49 minutes to reach clinic spot, mostly by walk (83.2%), and spent 58.9 +/- 32.2 minutes at clinic, of which two third in waiting for service(s). Each patient had consulted 1.23 +/- 0.55 medical agencies for treatment of leprosy. The average man-day and wage losses to a patient, due to monthly clinic attendance, were estimated to be 0.48 +/- 0.49 days and Rs. 2.28 +/- 3.06, respectively. Only 10.6% of the 500 patients got admitted 1.55 +/- 0.89 times in leprosy hospital for a duration of 63 +/- 69.30 days and lost wages of Rs. 126.4 +/- 85.64 per month of stay in hospital. Availability and efficient delivery of comprehensive medical care through well organized and regularly conducted leprosy clinic, by considerate and sympathetic staff was much emphasised by patients. Various factors influencing medical care delivery and its utilization by patients, are discussed in this communication.</p>  a0254-9395