Ethical Standards Compliance and Healthcare Services Delivery in Edo State Public Hospitals

Abstract

Healthcare service delivery is described as the cornerstone of public trust in government. This study examined the influence of ethical standards compliance on healthcare service delivery in Edo State public hospitals. Specifically, it assessed the current state of ethical compliance among healthcare professionals and evaluated the effectiveness of ethical standards on service delivery. The study adopted a mixed-method descriptive survey design. The Principle-Based Ethics Theory served as the theoretical framework. A sample of 779 respondents was selected from six secondary hospitals across the three senatorial districts in Edo State. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation with SPSS 25.0 at 0.05 level of significance. Qualitative data from in-depth interviews were thematically analysed. Findings reveal that ethical standards compliance in Edo State public hospitals is moderately high but inconsistent. There is strong observance of autonomy, confidentiality, and informed consent, but notable gaps in attentiveness, respect, and prevention of conflict of interest. Ethical compliance has a strong positive influence on service delivery, r = .893, p < .05. R² = .797 indicates that 79.7% of the variance in healthcare service delivery is explained by ethical standards compliance. Qualitative findings further show that healthcare workers face challenges of inadequate hospital equipment, workforce shortages, and non-commensurate salaries. These structural factors prompt irregular behaviours among practitioners. The study concludes that ethical compliance significantly predicts service delivery outcomes. It is recommended that periodic in-service training on courtesy, and patientcentred care be organised to address gaps in conduct. Hospital management should also set up monitoring units to check unethical practices