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AbstractIntroduction Limited data exist on the role of patient perception of healthcare quality as a predictor of patient satisfaction within the public health system in India. Therefore, we conducted this study to identify factors predicting patient satisfaction among inpatients of a public sector tertiary care hospital in Kerala, India. Methods A cross-sectional study was done by interviewing 524 patients (mean age 48.73 years, males 47.7 %) from surgical and medical wards in the hospital. Data were collected using a validated, structured questionnaire, including a patient satisfaction questionnaire and a perceived healthcare quality questionnaire, each with a total score ranging from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS (Version 20). Results Mean (SD) overall perceived healthcare quality score was 3.01 (0.46) and general satisfaction score was 3.06 (0.63). There was a moderate positive correlation between the overall perceived healthcare quality score and the overall patient satisfaction score (r = 0.54, p Conclusion Patient-perceived healthcare quality is a significant predictor of patient satisfaction in a public sector tertiary care hospital. To improve patient satisfaction and advance Universal health coverage goals, policymakers and administrators should prioritise enhancing quality domains including doctor–patient communication, staff responsiveness, and hospital infrastructure with targeted interventions during quality improvement plans.
Mini et al. (Wed,) studied this question.