Performance of health providers in primary health care services in Jordan

The study analysed time utilization by a sample of 111 physicians, nurses and midwives in 62 primary health care facilities in Jordan. The providers' activity over each shift was coded at 3-minute intervals using an activity sampling technique and patient-provider contact times were recorded. Overall, health providers spent the nearly half their time (48.7%) as down time' (waiting, breaks and non-work related activities), with 29.1% as clinical activities and 22.1% as non-clinical work-related activities. Physicians had higher clinical and down times than nurses and midwives; waiting for patients accounted for half the down time. The mean physician-patient contact time was 3.08 minutes. An appointment system is recommended to reduce down times for health providers and increase consultation times.