Project Abstract

Abstract
Time series analysis is a powerful statistical technique used to analyze and forecast patterns in data over time. In the context of healthcare, understanding patient attendance patterns at a hospital can provide valuable insights for resource allocation, staffing, and overall operational planning. This study focuses on conducting a time series analysis of patient attendance at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) in Nigeria. The primary objective of this research is to investigate trends, seasonality, and potential factors influencing patient attendance at UUTH. By analyzing historical attendance data, this study aims to identify patterns and make forecasts to assist hospital management in optimizing resource utilization and improving patient care. The research methodology involves collecting and organizing historical patient attendance data from UUTH. Various time series analysis techniques will be applied to the data, including decomposition to identify trend and seasonality components, autocorrelation analysis to detect patterns in the data, and forecasting models to predict future attendance patterns. The findings of this study will contribute to the body of knowledge on healthcare management and hospital operations in Nigeria. By understanding patient attendance patterns at UUTH, hospital administrators can make informed decisions on staffing levels, resource allocation, and service planning to meet the needs of patients effectively. Additionally, forecasting future attendance patterns can help in anticipating peak periods and optimizing resource utilization to ensure efficient and quality healthcare services. Overall, this research aims to provide valuable insights into patient attendance patterns at UUTH through time series analysis. By leveraging statistical techniques and historical data, this study seeks to enhance the understanding of factors influencing patient attendance and improve operational planning at the hospital. The findings of this research have the potential to inform evidence-based decision-making in healthcare management and contribute to the overall efficiency and quality of services provided at UUTH.

Project Overview

1.1 INTRODUCTION

University of Uyo Teaching Hospital since its inception in 1994 has received considerable amount of people, for treatment medical advice, family planning and a host of other reason. Different categories of people have patronized the hospital for its efficiency.

It is therefore in the best interest of the researcher to use his or her knowledge of statistic application is the attendance of ill health (patients) attending the hospital. It does not and here the research as will look forward to classifying, arranging and recording the monthly, quarterly, annual, bi-annual attendance of patients in the hospital.

In an attempt to introduce efficient methods and routine towards comparing the total attendance of, in and out patient this in general comprises of male, female and children patient attending the hospital.

To crown it all, it shall be in form of data (secondary, primary data) depending on the set of people wishing to use it and purpose or criterion behind using the research, the data collected will be analysis organized, summarized and compiled. Since hospital patronage is consistent and continuous process, it will be an efficient data collection, centres and will promote statistical application and voluminous data i.e. moving average and time series analysis.

1.2 AIMS OF OBJECTIVE

1. To determine whether there is an increase or decrease in patients’ attendance.
2. To forecast the patient attendance by using linear trend method
3. To forecast for patient attendance using the fitted trend equation from 2008 to 2012

1.3 SCOPE AND LIMITATION

This research will limit it analysis on the comparison of the attendance of patient. (IN and OUT) based on secondary data collected from the hospital University of Uyo Teaching Hospital from (1994 to 2007).

VARIOUS DEPARTMENT OF THE HOSPITAL

The hospital consists of nine (9) departments. The various departments include:

Medical Department: The Medical Director is the overall boss of the hospital. He is only answerable to the AkwaIbom State Commissioner of Health. He is in charge of all medical cases.

Administration Department: Hospital secretary is the head of this department. He heads all the administrative staff of various departments of the hospital and all heads of department are under him and answerable them, as every head administered on his behalf.

Nursing Service Department: The nursing service department is in charge with central of nurses, their posting, their duty roster, their shifting training to other post basic courses.

Medical Record Department: This department deals with keeping record and collection of data.

Laboratory: Technologist works in the laboratory and for the operation of laboratories equipment.

Pharmacy Department:The pharmaceutical department is in charge with the supply of drugs, drugs custody, drug protection and storage etc.

Radiology Department: The radiology is in charge with x-ray e.g. chinstraps etc.

Ophthalmology Department:Ophthalmology department is in charge with all cases of eye, its treatment etc.

E.N.T Department: This department is in charge with all cases of ear