PATIENTS EXPECTATIONS AND SATISFACTION IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT-CLINIC, AL KHOBAR, SAUDI-ARABIA

Objective: To assess the expectations and study of patients receiving outpatient hospital care. Design: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted using a structured questionnaire form on a random sample of outpatient clinic attendants. Setting: The outpatient department c linics at King Fahad University Hospital, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Sub jects: A sample of 1232 subjects attending 6 outpatient clinics. Metho ds: Direct interviewing of subjects using a structured questionnaire w as carried out. Information collected were basic demographic data rega rding subjects expectations and satisfaction regarding aspects of outp atient health care. The assessed questionnaire reliability was 71%. Re sults: The highest rate of satisfaction was regarding the set of inves tigations carried out while the lowest rate was regarding waiting time . There were significant mismatches between subjects' expectations and what was really offered to them regarding doctor-patient communicatio n acid continuity of care. Conclusion: The study has revealed reasonab le rates of good satisfaction of patients with outpatient care and a c lear degree of mismatchment between patients' expectations regarding c ontinuity of care and doctor-patient communication and what was actual ly offered in these two respects.