Departmental Variability in Inpatient Medical Experience and Its Association With Satisfaction: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Analysis

Objectives This study aims to explore the internal relationship between inpatient satisfaction (IS), the built environment, and medical experience (ME) throughout the medical treatment process. Background The inpatient environmental conditions and treatment procedures of different departments are associated with patient experience. However, previous studies have not thoroughly analyzed the demand for medical treatment from the perspective of departmental differences. Method The inpatient ME scale and IS scale were utilized to survey inpatients at five comprehensive hospitals in Bengbu, China. Results Regression analysis revealed that four dimensions of the ME scale (Social Support Experience (SSE), Natural Environmental Experience (NEE), Decorative Environmental Experience (DEE), and Sensory Environmental Experience (SEE)) were associated with IS. Furthermore, preliminary differences were observed in the factors influencing IS and ME across departments. These associative findings highlight these four dimensions as promising areas for future hypothesis generation. While ISE does not exhibit a significant association with IS in the overall analysis, it appears to be relevant in the emergency department. The results underscore notable variations in inpatient needs across departments, rather than the adoption of a uniform model. Conclusions ME is associated with IS, with variations across different departments. This study provides exploratory insights into how ME and IS may differ across departmental contexts during the medical treatment process. Rather than offering prescriptive solutions, the findings suggest that specialized departments could consider integrating analysis of inpatients’ physiological, psychological, and individual conditions to improve IS through medical care and environmental factors. These insights offer an initial foundation for future research aimed at improving the quality of medical care.