title: Factors influencing patient satisfaction in primary healthcare clinics in Kuwait.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the quality of health care services patient satisfaction is used as one of the most important indicators. The study aims to identify factors affecting patient's satisfaction at primary health care clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data was collected during January 2007 and May 2007 through a randomly-distributed questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed in primary healthcare clinics that represent all heath care regions in Kuwait. A total of 426 completed questionnaires, out of 500, were returned resulting in a response rate of 85.2 percent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (87 percent) of the patients responded that the time for communication between physician and patient was not enough. Seventy-nine-percent of the surveyed patients said they would go to the emergency room of the hospital in future if needed instead of going to the primary care clinic. Regarding the quality of the communication relationship between physician and patients most of the patients responded negatively. Exploratory factor analysis identified six factors and reliability of overall scale was found to be 0.61.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One limitation to this study was the exclusion of the private sector.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors hope that this study identifies areas of dissatisfaction that can be quickly remedied and ensures enhancement in the areas of satisfaction with ongoing attention and emphasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Information Administration, Kuwait University, Sulaibekhat, Kuwait. amalhashem@hsc.edu.kw
authors.forename: Abdul Majeed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alhashem
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alquraini
authors.forename: Rafiqul I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult