Predictors of Patients' Satisfaction with Primary Health Care Services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Nov 16;11(22):2973. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11222973.

Abstract

Background: Understanding the factors influencing patients' satisfaction with primary healthcare services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is essential for improving healthcare outcomes and patient experiences.

Objectives: This research work is concerned with the identification of the patient satisfaction predictors with the primary health care services by conducting a systematic review in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: The three databases in the form of Google Scholar, PubMed, and Medline have been used for article extraction. Keywords have been used to search the articles related to this work, such as the predictors of patient satisfaction. The different journals selected were associated with the selected data basis. The research studies selected for the systematic review were evaluated with the help of PRISMA and JBI assessments. The cross-sectional studies have been included in this systematic review.

Results: The 3125 articles identified were from the three databases PubMed (1352), Medline (1103), and Google Scholar (670). All the selected studies were evaluated and screened with the help of PRISMA. After extracting the 25 articles for the systematic review, the JBI assessment was applied to the methodologies. The overall quality satisfaction indicated that all the selected studies were suitable for the systematic review.

Conclusion: Studies have consistently identified five key predictors of patient satisfaction in primary healthcare: availability, accessibility, communication, rational conduct, technical skills, and personal qualities. Policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers can use these insights to inform strategies to optimize healthcare services and foster higher levels of patient satisfaction in the Kingdom.

Keywords: Saudi Arabia; patients’ satisfaction; primary care; systematic review.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.