Healthcare Management Practices and Patient Satisfaction in Saudi Arabia: A Conceptual Framework Integrating Staff Training and Service Quality as Mediating Factors

Patient satisfaction is a critical indicator of healthcare quality and organizational effectiveness. This paper presents a comprehensive conceptual framework examining the relationship between healthcare management practices (HMPs) and patient satisfaction in Saudi Arabia, with staff training and service quality serving as mediating variables. Drawing upon the Resource-Based View (RBV), SERVQUAL model, and Donabedian's healthcare quality framework, this study integrates theoretical perspectives to explain how management practices translate into patient satisfaction outcomes. The proposed framework posits that HMPs directly influence patient satisfaction while also operating through dual mediating pathways via staff training and service quality enhancement. Seven hypotheses are developed addressing direct and indirect relationships among constructs. This conceptual contribution advances understanding of satisfaction determinants within the Saudi Vision 2030 healthcare transformation context, offering theoretical foundations for empirical investigation and practical guidance for healthcare administrators seeking to improve patient outcomes.