ABSTRACT Objectives: Although awareness of celiac disease (CD) is increasing in Saudi Arabia, there is still limited information regarding how satisfied patients are with the care they receive. This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with CD healthcare services and explore the factors that affect it. Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 355 adult patients in Saudi Arabia with a self-reported diagnosis of CD. The survey consisted of four sections, each gathering different types of data: sociodemographic information, medical history, use of healthcare services, and levels of satisfaction and suggestions related to CD services. Patients’ satisfaction with healthcare services was evaluated using 11 satisfaction items, with responses rated on a Likert scale. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of satisfaction scores. Results: Patients reported the highest satisfaction with how physicians managed CD (2.15 ± 1.01), while the lowest satisfaction was linked to the availability of gluten-free (GF) options in restaurants and cafés (1.21 ± 0.80). Men ( P < 0.001), highly educated individuals ( P < 0.05), non-Saudis ( P < 0.001), and employed patients ( P < 0.01) reported lower satisfaction in selected items. Based on the regression analysis, the key predictors of total satisfaction score were sex ( r = 0.172, P < 0.05), education level ( r = −0.176, P < 0.05), and type of hospital where diagnosis was confirmed ( r = 0.240, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Although overall satisfaction with medical care was relatively high, enhancing access to GF products and reducing healthcare disparities across different patient populations remain critical areas for improvement.
Aljahdali et al. (Tue,) studied this question.