Assessment of Patient Satisfaction Levels and Determinants in Outpatient Clinics of Ministry of Health Tertiary Hospitals in Saudi Arabia: A Survey Analysis

Patient satisfaction is key in determining healthcare quality and essential in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 healthcare transformation. This study assessed outpatient satisfaction with healthcare services across Saudi Arabia. This is a secondary analysis of a nationwide, cross-sectional, standardized, self-administered Press-Ganey survey from various regions of Saudi Arabia. Patient satisfaction was measured across 10 domains across healthcare services with a 5-point Likert scale, which was then converted to a percentage-based mean score. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS, with results considered statistically significant at P < .05. Differences in patient satisfaction scores were observed. Males reported slightly higher satisfaction than females in 9 out of 10 domains, with mean scores of 78.6% for males and 77.3% for females. Adults over 65 years reported the highest overall satisfaction with a mean score of 81.1%. Regional differences were observed, with the Southern region reporting the highest satisfaction across all domains (82.6%) while the Western region reported the lowest (74.4%). Areas with the lowest satisfaction included waiting times, disabled patients’ accessibility, and administrative support, although scores in these domains still reflected generally favorable patient experiences. This study reveals the impact of demographic and regional differences on patients’ satisfaction with outpatient services across Saudi Arabia, with lower satisfaction among young adults and females.