Factors influencing patients' satisfaction

In complex systems, such as healthcare, patient satisfaction is identified as the patient experience of care and has been referred to as the "indispensable outcome." The main goals of ED practitioners are the patient satisfaction along with maintaining optimal outcomes. Patient satisfaction has become a very important outcome measure when assessing healthcare systems performance. Nevertheless, it is a complex confusing concept. Some providers suggest several activities in order to enhance the satisfaction without being sure if these actions really improve satisfaction or no. Also, patient satisfaction enhancement activities should not conflict with cost efficacy. Several factors fall under patient satisfaction. Interviews with physicians prove that patients have specific expectations during a clinical encounter; being aware of these expectations, physicians can fulfill patient satisfaction. The goal of this chapter is to determine the contribution and effect of these factors in influencing patient satisfaction.