Health System Responsiveness to Patients in the Teaching Hospital of Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Introduction: Health system responsiveness is a critical component of healthcare quality, defined by the extent to which a health system meets patients’ expectations and needs. This study aimed to assess the responsiveness of the health system in teaching hospitals affiliated with Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from the perspective of inpatients and outpatients. Methods: A descriptive-analytical study was conducted in three teaching hospitals of Zabol between April 2023 and March 2024. The data were collected from 483 participants via a translated version of the World Health Organization’s Health System Responsiveness Survey. Eight domains of responsiveness were evaluated using a Likert-type scale. Statistical analyses, including descriptive and inferential tests, were performed using SPSS 26. Results: The mean age of participants was 38.3±9.67 years, with 58.8% being female. The overall responsiveness score was rated as moderate (1.96±0.66 and 2.07±0.73 for inpatients and outpatients, respectively). Among the domains, "confidentiality" scored the highest (75.25%), while "choice of provider" (32.75%) and "prompt attention" (28.00%) scored the lowest. Socioeconomic factors such as insurance status were significantly associated with variations in responsiveness scores (P<0.05). Conclusion: The findings highlight critical gaps in certain domains of health system responsiveness, particularly in "prompt attention" and "choice of provider", underscoring the need for targeted policy interventions. Improving these aspects can enhance patient satisfaction and trust, especially in underserved regions such as Zabol. Future strategies should focus on resource allocation and foster a culture of accountability within healthcare institutions.