Assessing Hospital Air-Conditioning System Management at the National Hospital, Abuja in Relation to Total Quality Management Principles

Abstract

Effective management of hospital air-conditioning systems is critical to patient comfort, staff productivity, as well as infection control in healthcare facilities. This study assessed air-conditioning management practices at h Total Quality Management (TQM) principles. A quantitative survey design was adopted, and data were collected from clinical staff, patients on admission, and maintenance personnel. A total of 284 valid responses were obtained, representing a response rate of 90.7%. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were employed for data analysis using IBM SPSS. The findings reveal substantial deficiencies in system reliability, maintenance responsiveness, and preventive servicing. Only 12.5% of respondents strongly agreed that air-conditioning units are consistently functional, while over 50% expressed dissatisfaction with temperature regulation and indoor air quality. Maintenance inefficiencies were evident, as 43.7% of respondents disagreed that faults were addressed promptly. Chi-square analysis indicated a statistically significant disparity between existing management practices and TQM-aligned benchmarks (p < 0.05), suggesting weak adherence to key TQM principles such as preventive maintenance, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making. Furthermore, 89.9% of respondents supported the adoption of IoT-based real-time monitoring systems as a proposed improvement strategy. The study concludes that current air-conditioning management practices exhibit limited conformity with TQM principles and highlights the need for structured, quality-driven, and technology-supported maintenance frameworks to improve system reliability and service delivery in public healthcare facilities.