Perception of Patients Towards Public Relations Practice in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (oauthc), Ile-Ife

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to assess the perception of patients towards public relations practice in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State. The objectives were to determine the level of awareness of patients on public relations practice, investigate the perception of patients regarding public relations efforts, evaluate the impact of effective public relations on the quality of healthcare delivery, identify challenges faced by patients towards awareness of public relations, and suggest solutions to these challenges.A descriptive survey research design was employed for this study, and the study population comprised patients attending the outpatient department, specifically in the General Out-Patient Department (GOPD) and Consultant Out-Patient Department (COPD), which is further categorized into the Medical Out-Patient Department (MOPD) and Surgical Out-Patient Department (SOPD) in OAUTHC in Osun State of 933 patients attending the clinics in a week.. The sample size was 280, determined using the Taro Yamane formula for sample size calculation. Proportionate sampling was used to select the number of respondents in each category of the outpatient department. A self-developed structured questionnaire was used to collect data.The findings revealed patients’ socio-demographic profiles, awareness of public relations practices, their perception of these efforts, and the impact on healthcare quality. Overall, patients viewed public relations practices positively, indicating a high level of awareness and positive influence. Satisfaction was high regarding communication and staff interactions, but there was room for improvement in fostering a more welcoming environment. Effective public relations were seen to enhance healthcare quality, with proposed solutions receiving strong patient endorsement for increasing awareness and satisfaction.It was concluded that Overall, the findings suggest that the perception of patients towards healthcare professionals at OAUTHC is largely positive. The recognition of areas for improvement and the patients’ support for proposed solutions also highlight a collaborative environment aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery and patient satisfaction. Based on the findings, it was recommended that hospital management should promote patient-centered care by tailoring communication and support programs to individual needs, thus enhancing overall satisfaction with healthcare service