MAGNITUDE OF PATIENT SATISFACTION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS WITH PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENT CARE IN HARARI REGION PUBLIC HOSPITALS, EASTERN ETHIOPIA:

Abstract

Patient satisfaction is a relative phenomenon, which embodies the patients‘ perceived need, his /her expectations from the health system, and experience of health care. Furthermore, it stands out as a crucial factor in assessing the effectiveness and success of a healthcare facility. However, there is no study conducted to assess the magnitude of patient satisfaction and associated factors among psychiatric patients in Eastern Ethiopia. Objective: To determine magnitude of patient satisfaction and associated factors with care given for psychiatric patients at psychiatry outpatient department of public hospitals of Harari Region, Eastern Ethiopia, from June 1 to 30, 2024 Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Harari Region public Hospitals. Systematic sampling was used to pick 422 study participants. Data was collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and entered to Epi-data and then exported to Stata for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were performed. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted on variables that had a pvalue of less than 0.25 in the bivariate analysis. Statistically significant factors in the multivariable logistic regression analysis were identified using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p-value of less than 0.05 Results: 52.8% of patients were satisfied with care given from psychiatry outpatient department. After adjusting for possible confounders, being diagnosed with MDD AOR=3.12; CI, 1.62-6.02), having strong social support (AOR= 3.29; CI, 1.86-5.80), availability of medication (AOR=4.11CI, 2.54-6.67), paying with insurance (AOR= 1.66; CI, 1.04-2.66), waiting time less than 30 minutes (AOR= 4.19; CI, 1.34-13.09) were factors independently associated with patient satisfaction. Conclusion: More than half of the study participants are satisfied with the outpatient service. Being diagnosed with MDD, having strong and medium social support, paying with insurance, less waiting time and availability of medication were associated with patient satisfaction.