Factors Influencing Delays of Elective Surgical Cases in Private Health Facilities in Kenya

Abstract

Delays of elective surgical operations are a major concern for all healthcare institutions and their resolution would be key in reducing wastes and improving workflow efficiency. However, achieving efficiency in the performance of elective surgical cases has been marred by numerous factors especially in the developing world, and Kenya, in particular. This study sought to identify the factors influencing delays of elective surgical cases in three private health facilities in Kenya. The study evaluated patient, staff, equipment and management support factors associated with delays of elective surgical cases. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study design encompassing use of both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was collected through questionnaires administered to operating room staff while qualitative data was collected through Key Informant Interviews with operating room administrators. Stratified random sampling was applied to select 238 respondents from a target population of 494 operating room staff drawn from the three facilities based in Nairobi (1), Mombasa (2) and Kisumu (3). Two (2) Key informants from each targeted facility were purposively selected for inclusion in the study. Descriptive data was then analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0 and the results were presented through mean and Standard deviation. Inferential statistics were calculated using Pearson’s Correlation and Multi-Linear regression methods to test the relationship between variables at 95% confidence interval where p-values of ≤ 0.05 were considered significant. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically and was guided by the study objectives, and then the results were triangulated with quantitative findings from questionnaires. The results indicate that out of the four factors evaluated, staff and management factors (X2: β2 =.074, P<.007), (X4: β4 =.516, P< .000), had a significant influence on the delays of elective surgical cases in the private health facilities in Kenya, while patient and equipment factors (X1: β1 =.034, P >.267), (X3: β3 =.009, P > .841) did not have a significant influence on delays of elective surgical cases in the private health facilities in Kenya.