Patient satisfaction with healthcare services and associated factors at public health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Investigating patient satisfaction is a critical metric in healthcare quality assessment and improvement efforts. Patient satisfaction not only reflects the quality of care provided but also influences patient outcomes and adherence to treatment plans. However, little is known about patient satisfaction and associated factors with healthcare services at the public health centers of Addis Ababa. Understanding the unique challenges and experiences of patients in this context is essential for identifying areas for improvement. Factors such as staff behavior, availability of medical resources, wait times, and the overall environment of care can significantly impact patient perceptions. This study aims to explore these factors in depth, providing insights that can inform policies and practices to enhance patient satisfaction in Addis Ababa’s public health centers. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A simple random sampling method was used to select 633 participants who were interviewed via a structured questionnaire. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. In this investigation, patient satisfaction with healthcare services was 77.4%. Obtain necessary drugs [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 17.5, 95% CI 5.29–57.81), access all lab services (AOR) = 15, 95% CI 4.91–46.40], easy access to parking and transportation (AOR = 15, 95% CI 2.02–111.80), providers’ respect for patients’ values, beliefs, and culture (AOR = 9, 95% CI 1.93–43.56), good patient handling practices (AOR = 7.7, 95% CI 2.25–26.03), receiving services at health centers with attractive compounds and green spaces (AOR = 7.7, 95% CI 1.98–30.18), receiving services at health centers with clean and comfortable environments (AOR = 5.6, 95% CI 1.06–29.61), adequate healthcare providers (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI 1.29–17.78), effective communication with healthcare providers (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.18–13.22), and modern equipment and technology (AOR = 4, 95% CI 1.23–13.25) were significantly associated with patient satisfaction. Assessing patient satisfaction with healthcare services is an important activity for improving quality services. The majority of the patients were satisfied with the healthcare services, indicating generally positive experiences with healthcare services. However, a notable number of participants still felt dissatisfied with the healthcare services. Therefore, to improve patient satisfaction with healthcare services, public health centers should develop new initiatives, such as fostering and sustaining a culture of change and patient safety and continuous professional training for staff. Furthermore, the government should provide essential drugs and medical resources to public health centers.