Patient Satisfaction With Primary Healthcare Services in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

BackgroundPatient satisfaction is regarded as a valid and significant indicator of the quality of medical care delivered. Additionally, it has been shown to be linked to better health outcomes. The goal of the study is to assess patients' overall satisfaction regarding primary healthcare (PHC) services.MethodologyIn this cross-sectional study conducted in Al-Ahsa, we used the General Practice Assessment Questionnaire and its four subscales with standard cutoffs. A sample of 287 patients was conveniently selected from PHC centers.ResultsA total of 287 patients were included. Patients' ages ranged from 18 to more than 65 years with a mean age of 32.5 +/- 13.9 years old. In total, 177 (61.7%) patients were female, and 225 (78.4%) reviewed the physician for their own problems. A total of 95 (33.1%) patients had chronic health problems. Overall, of the study patients, a total of 38 (13.2%) were highly satisfied regarding provided services, while 45 (15.7%) had a low overall satisfaction level. In general, the mean score (%) of patient satisfaction was 61.9 +/- 11.8.ConclusionsThe level of satisfaction with the services provided by PHC centers in Al-Ahsa is moderate. The level of satisfaction concerning some services provided by PHC centers differs significantly according to age, gender, presence of chronic health problems, and employment status.