title: Patient satisfaction with outpatient neurology services: a momentum for improvement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Outcome measures of patient satisfaction are increasingly accepted as an integral component of the overall healthcare quality assessment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A survey of the outpatient neurology services in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was performed to determine the overall patient satisfaction, provide an assessment of current services and form the foundation for improved expansion of neurological care.
  
  
  METHODS
  233 patients were recruited from the Addis Ababa University Teaching Hospital outpatient general neurology clinic by a cross-sectional sample survey design. Data from structured interview and abstraction of medical records were analyzed by SPSS for Windows version 15.0 computer software. Visual analysis of mean satisfaction scores and Spearman's rho correlation coefficients generated priority indices serving to guide expansion of neurology services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  212 patients with mean age of 40.1 and a 1:1M: F ratio completed the survey. The variation of overall patient satisfaction (mean, 70.4; SD, 12.4) was independently predicted by patient clinical outcome expectations and satisfaction on waiting area, overall service of doctor and card room [R(2)=0.305; F (8,195)=10.685, p=0.000]. Mean satisfaction scores for specific dimensions of the outpatient general neurology clinic ranged from 57.2 for waiting time at the clinic to 74.0 for overall service of the guards. Waiting time at the clinic stood first among the top five priority indices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey demonstrates predictors of overall patient satisfaction with the outpatient neurology services, and delineates priority areas warranting further improvement. It is the first African study on patient satisfaction with neurology services, and provides a guide for neurological or other specialty clinics seeking to improve and expand medical services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Sisay Gizaw
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Geberemichael
authors.forename: Guta Zenebe
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Metaferia
authors.forename: Getahun Mengistu
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Takele
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D009462:Neurology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D055815:Young Adult