Unveiling Patient Satisfaction: Exploring Demographics, Interactions, and Health-Seeking Behavior

Objective: This study examined the social context of the patient visit (demographics, waiting room experience, patient-provider interaction) and their relationship to satisfaction with the quality of care when seeking medical treatment. It also examined satisfaction as a predictor variable for its effect on three patient behavioral outcomes. Methods: The study was implemented using a cross-sectional quantitative design among adults aged 18 and older. One hundred fifty-eight participants responded to the survey, and the final sample size was n = 147. We employed advanced data analysis, hierarchical regression, three-way ANOVA, linear regression, and logistic regression to examine four outcome variables. Results: Our hierarchical regression found that satisfaction with the quality of care was significantly associated with age, perceptions of rude treatment in the waiting room, the perceived helpfulness of the prescribed treatment, and the provider’s friendliness. Linear and logistic regression demonstrated that patient satisfaction strongly predicted whether patients would delay healthcare visits, recommend their current provider to family and friends, and look for a new provider. Conclusions: Factors influencing patient satisfaction appear to differ between older patients and younger adult patients, as demonstrated in this study. Addressing modifiable factors in the waiting room and within the patient-provider interaction may positively affect patient satisfaction, increase healthcare utilization, produce better patient health outcomes, and contribute to organizational success.