Assessment of parental satisfaction with paediatric health services in public sector tertiary hospitals within a low-income setting using Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ-18)

Abstract

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is an integral part of healthcare quality, impacting treatment adherence, patient loyalty and healthcare utilisation. Parental satisfaction is particularly crucial as parents influence decision-making for their child's healthcare.

Objective: The objective was to assess parental satisfaction levels (as measured by Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18 (PSQ-18)) related to paediatric healthcare services and identify specific factors significantly influencing parental satisfaction with paediatric healthcare services.

Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that used a structured questionnaire based on the PSQ-18. The study was conducted in Faisalabad, Islamabad, Peshawar and Swat. Seven subscales measured satisfaction across various dimensions.

Results: We found 882 suitable responses indicating a diverse participant demographic, with the largest group in the 6-12 years age category. The overall mean parental satisfaction score was 2.0±0.5 (40.0%). Notably, financial aspects scored highest at 2.8 (55%), followed by accessibility and convenience at 2.0 (40.5%). However, lower satisfaction scores in the interpersonal relationship (1.8±0.5) and technical quality (1.8±0.5) domains were recorded. Sociodemographic analysis indicated age, education and occupation significantly influenced satisfaction. Conversely, factors such as gender, residence and the presence of chronic disease did not significantly impact satisfaction levels.

Conclusion: The study offers valuable insights into paediatric patient satisfaction in Pakistan, emphasising the need for targeted interventions and improvements in specific domains to enhance overall healthcare quality.

Keywords: Nutrition; Qualitative research.