Examination of the relationship between health communication problems and outpatient satisfaction

Communication is the main criterion in determining patient satisfaction since it has a direct impact on patient satisfaction. Good communication is directly linked to a higher level of patient satisfaction, taking advice into account and health outcomes. Many doctors nowadays think that treatment is more effective when patient-centric communication is present or when the patient's needs, preferences and values are met. This study aims to evaluate the impact of health communication problems on outpatient satisfaction in adults. The study was conducted on individuals aged 18 and over living in Ankara province. Quantitative research design was employed in the study. A total of 503 adult individuals constituted the sample size of the study. The first of the scales used in the study is the health communication problems scale developed by Yeşildal et al. (2021). The scale has 13 questions and 3 sub-dimensions. Another scale used in the research is the Outpatient Satisfaction Scale. The scale (2018) was developed by Kaya and Maimaiti. The scale consists of 29 questions and 5 sub-dimensions. The average score to be obtained from the Health Communication Problems scale was x= 2.57, while it was x=3.42 for the Outpatient Satisfaction Scale. The impact of health communication issues on outpatient satisfaction was analysed in this study. In the study, t-test, one-way analysis of variance and Pearson Correlation test were used to determine the relationship between health communication problems and outpatient satisfaction scales and their sub-dimensions. The health communication problems score and its sub-dimensions vary according to gender, age, district of residence, sector of employment, income status, most preferred health institution, and reasons for choosing the hospital. In tandem, outpatient patient satisfaction score and its sub-dimensions vary according to gender, district of residence, sector of employment, income status, most preferred health institution, and reasons for choosing the hospital. The regression analysis shows that communication problems impact patient satisfaction to a high degree and negatively. Keywords: Patient satisfaction; Communication; Health Communication