Punctuality of Patients and Physicians in an Outpatient Setting: Which Has a Greater Effect on Waiting Time?

Background: Patients’ waiting time for healthcare services is identified as one of the key measurements of an effective health system. This factor has an important role in patients’ satisfaction as well. One factor that is related to the waiting time is patients’ punctuality. Objectives: the objective of this study was assessing the effect of patients’ and physicians’ punctuality on outpatients’ waiting time. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The study population was outpatients that were admitted in clinics of a general non-educational hospital. 3500 samples were selected from all clinics. The sampling method was stratified randomized method. Samples were included after taking the informed consent. Data gathered by check lists that recorded the patients work flow at the clinic and the time of arrival to and departure of each station. Results: About 34% of patients had appointment that 98.5% of them were unpunctual. The correlation of patient unpunctuality (positive and negative) and their waiting time indicated that these variables had positive correlation (P