Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of service quality perception on patient satisfaction and determine which dimension from 5 dimensions (tangible, reliability, responsive, assurance, and empathy) has the greatest impact on patient satisfaction. METHODS: A total of 183 eligible patients participated in this study. This study was conducted in Al-Baha province, Saudi Arabia from June 2013 to August 2013. We utilized the cross-sectional method, using a modified Assessment of Service Quality questionnaire to collect the data. RESULTS: To test the study hypothesis, multiple regression analysis was carried out. Analysis of variance revealed that the overall result showed a statistically significant impact of health service quality on patient satisfaction (p=0.000). The beta-weights (beta) suggested that the empathy dimension had the greatest influence on patient satisfaction (beta=0.476), followed by tangible (beta=0.198) and responsiveness dimensions (beta=0.164). CONCLUSION: Patient satisfaction was influenced by health service quality, with the empathy dimension as the greatest influence on patient satisfaction. Therefore, it should be considered a priority by government hospitals to train doctors in interpersonal relationship skills to enhance the doctor-patient relationship.
Article Type
Brief Report
First Page
1271
Last Page
1273
Recommended Citation
Alghamdi, Faris S.
(2014)
"The impact of service quality perception on patient satisfaction in Government Hospitals in Southern Saudi Arabia,"
Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 35:
Iss.
10, Article 16.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.6066