Injections and Patient Satisfaction in Zulu-Speaking Patients

Abstract

One of the main objectives in a consultation is for patients to leave the consulting room feeling satisfied with their consultation. Satisfied patients are more likely to remain with a physician, keep appointments, comply with treatment and refer other patients to their physician. Among the factors that allegedly influence Zulu speaking patients' satisfaction is that of receiving an injection as part of the consultation. In a study about patient perceptions Mfenyana said: "...the majority of black people preferred an injection every time they consulted their doctor...". Giving injections to Zulu speaking patients has become routine in many practices in the belief that this is what patient want. Injection therapy is common throughout the developing world3 and the reasons for its popularity remain unanswered. This study was done to measure satisfaction in those who did receive an injection compared with those that did not receive an injection.