Patient Satisfaction and its Influencing Factors:  Results from a survey in inpatient department in a tertiary hospital setting in China

Patient satisfaction constitutes one of the three dimensions of health system performance metrics, alongside health status and financial protection. Nevertheless, comprehension of the elements influencing patient satisfaction remains limited. This study aims to evaluate inpatient satisfaction through a survey. We conducted a survey of 433 patients at the Fifth Hospital Affiliated with Wenzhou Medical University using a stratified random sampling technique to provide scientific evidence for enhancing inpatient satisfaction. The Kruskal-Wallis test and ordered logistic regression were utilized to examine the relationship between inpatient satisfaction and its influencing factors. The results indicated that the average inpatient satisfaction score was 4.49, with higher scores for medical process and medical technology, and the lowest score for medical cost. Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between payment methods and overall satisfaction. Ordered logistic regression indicated that inpatient satisfaction increased with higher scores in all dimensions of healthcare service quality. Medical technology, doctor-patient communication, environmental factors, medical processes, and medical costs significantly and positively influence inpatient satisfaction. The overall satisfaction with inpatient services is affected by multiple factors, and enhancements can be achieved by optimizing doctor-patient communication, improving the hospital environment and facilities, and standardizing the medical service process.