title: Evaluation of factors influencing patient satisfaction in social security hospitals in Mazandaran province, North of Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient satisfaction is affected by hospital services and may have an effect on the cultural, social and personal conditions of the people living in the region. This research aimed to evaluate the patient satisfaction in social security hospitals in Mazandaran province.
  
  
  METHODS
  From Spring 2012 to Summer 2013, all patients admitted to social security hospitals in Mazandaran province were entered in the study. Data regarding to inhabitation, sex, income and patients' educational level and satisfaction with the hospital services were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven hundred seventy-six patients with mean age of 47.35±7.41 years were analyzed. Patient's inhabitant, educational attainment and income level had a significant relationship with patient satisfaction level (p<0.05). There was no significant difference regarding patients' gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that the patient's inhabitant, educational and income level are related to attain patients' satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: 1. Treatment Management of Social Security Organization of Mazandaran Province, Ghaemshahr, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Ebrahim
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jafari Kelarijani
authors.affiliation: 1. Treatment Management of Social Security Organization of Mazandaran Province, Ghaemshahr, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jamshidi
authors.affiliation: 1. Treatment Management of Social Security Organization of Mazandaran Province, Ghaemshahr, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Heidarian
authors.affiliation: 1. Treatment Management of Social Security Organization of Mazandaran Province, Ghaemshahr, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khorshidi
keywords: Individual characteristics; Patient satisfaction; Social Security Organization