Abstract:

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine vari­ous aspects of satisfaction levels and related socio-de­mographical variables of both inpatients and outpatients admitted to a university hospital. Materials and Methods: Two different questionnaires were prepared to evaluate the satisfaction levels of both inpatients and outpatients. Face to face interview was conducted with a total of 820 patients, 379 (46.2%) inpa­tients and 441 (53.8%) outpatients, to fill out the prepared questionnaires. Results: Among the inpatients 79.5% reported that they were generally satisfied at the level of or above their ex­pectations, whereas it was the case for 76.2% of outpa­tients in the study. When the satisfaction levels of the in­patients and outpatients were compared; inpatients were more satisfied with the care provided by their doctors, the laboratory and radiology services and patient security than the outpatients. In terms of general hospital hygiene outpatients reported a greater satisfaction than the inpa­tients. Among inpatients, the patients with advanced age were found to be more satisfied in terms of laboratory and radiology services, general hospital hygiene, food qual­ity and hygiene of the clinic than the younger patients. Patients who were literate or who have graduated from primary school reported higher degrees of satisfaction from the information provided by their doctors, informa­tion desk services, general hygiene and outpatient clinic services than high school or university graduates. Almost half of the patients in the study (48%) were from lower socio-economical status and in some dimensions they reported less satisfaction than the patients from higher socio-economical status. Conclusion: Patients treated in inpatient and outpatient settings may differ in terms of various satisfaction vari­ables. Socio-economic status and patient satisfaction was seen as a linear relationship between.

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