The Level of Satisfaction and Its Main Determinants in Patients Hospitalized at Shahid Mohammadi Hospital in Bandar Abbas, South of Iran

Background: Patients’ satisfaction with medical services and related factors varied considerably across societies. It is extremely essential to evaluate the level of patient satisfaction, as it plays a crucial role in the quality management of medical centers and hospitals. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine and examine effective factors in order to increase the satisfaction of patients in the hospitals of Bandar Abbas. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 251 consecutive patients admitted to Shahid Mohammadi Hospital in Bandar Abbas in 2024. The Persian translation of the PSQ-18 questionnaire was used to assess their level of satisfaction. Results: The average overall score of patients’ satisfaction with medical services was 4.12±0.68. Their satisfaction score was statistically independent of gender, age, marital status, and educational level. However, it had a strong association with the existence of medical insurance, indicating that patients without health insurance were more satisfied than those with various types of health insurance (P=0.008). The highest satisfaction score in different dimensions of the questionnaire was related to the verbal communication of the treatment staff, while the lowest level of satisfaction was associated with the waiting time for treatment and necessary care during hospitalization. Conclusion: Overall, the patients demonstrated a favorable level of satisfaction. Gender, age, marital status, or education level of the patients had no effect on their level of satisfaction. Nevertheless, the higher level of satisfaction in patients without health insurance is an interesting finding that requires further evaluation.