Doungnapa Pichetkul. Performance of the complaints handling officers in the Universal Health Coverage Project . Master's Degree(Population Education). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Performance of the complaints handling officers in the Universal Health Coverage Project
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to improve the performance of the complaints
handling officers in universal health coverage and, at the same time, to identify any
factors that might have a negative impact on the performance of these officers. Also, it
was an opportunity for these officers to provide suggestions or complaints about
insufficiently handled complaints that they might have come across. The
questionnaires were mailed to 516 complaints handling officers working in the
hospital governed by the Ministry of Public Health. Data analysis was done by using
percentile, mean, standard deviation and stepwise multiple regression analysis.
The results from this study indicate that 86.24 percent of the complaints
handling officers are working in community hospitals. Only 79.07 percent of the
participating officers have had formal training on the guide lines of government
universal health coverage. The number of officers who have received training in
techniques and methodology in handling complaints was 52.13 percent. The most
commonly used channel for lodging a complaint was through the officers handling
complaints (95.93 percent) and followed by 90.31 percent for telephone complaints.
The performance of complaints handling officers was very satisfactory. The officers’
knowledge of benefits in universal health coverage was fair and officers had a high
opinion of universal health coverage. Motivation in job performance and support from
supervisors were also fair. Predictive factors, having an effect p<0.05, were method
and technique in handling complaints, attitude toward universal health coverage,
motivation, and supervisor support. These predictive factors amounted to 26.10
percent.
As a result of this study, the suggestions are as follows: the complaint
handling office should be located on site and, at the same time, there should also be an
off site complaints office so that people can feel free to complain without worry. There
should be a clear and precise job description and duty for the complaint officers to
follow. Supervisors should provide, in writing, a policy for job performance. There
should be on-going performance improvement seminars for officers. Also, meetings
between officers and supervisors should be held periodically, so that, there is on-going
communication between the two. The officers should realize the importance of
recording all performance in handling complaints. Finally, there should be a periodic
performance evaluation of all officers to help improve the complaint handling process