title: Patient satisfaction with outpatient health care services: evaluation of the components of this service using regression analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In health care services, patient's expectations, and satisfaction levels are important markers of the services provided. The aim of this study is to determine patient satisfaction level, and its influential factors in patients receiving treatment on an ambulatory basis who applied to a state hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study a total of 210 patients were face-to-face interviewed, and patient satisfaction questionnaire survey was performed. Socioeconomic characteristics, physical conditions of the hospital, pecularities of the health care providers, and satisfaction from health care services received were questioned independently. Regression analysis was performed to investigate factors effective on patient satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation was not found between sociodemographic factors, and patient satisfaction (p<0.05). Favourable patient acceptance of the health care services received is effected by the duration of the waiting period. Communication skills of the health care professionals have been found to be the fundamental factors effective on the preference or recommendation of a certain health care institute once more (p<0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Empowering the communication skills of health care professionals, and decreasing the waiting period were found to be necessary in order to increase the satisfaction levels of ambulatory patients.
authors.affiliation: Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fisun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.affiliation: Golcuk Necati Celik Public Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seval
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ciftci
authors.affiliation: Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yigit
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cakiroglu
authors.affiliation: Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Birol
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vural
keywords: Communication; health care professional; patient satisfaction