The influence of patient sociodemographic characteristics on patient satisfaction

Abstract

The patient satisfaction responses of active duty Army patients in military facilities were analyzed to determine (1) if patients differ along sociodemographic characteristics, (2) the predictors of satisfaction, and (3) the sociodemographic characteristics that moderate patients' satisfaction. Regression results suggest that access, communication, outcomes, and quality predict 42% of the variation in patients' satisfaction scores. Additionally, an analysis of variance suggests that patient satisfaction evaluations are significantly different along sociodemographic characteristics excepting marital status and duty location. Finally, patients' sociodemographic characteristics, with the exceptions of gender and marital status, moderate patients' satisfaction. These findings suggest that patients' satisfaction differs significantly along age, rank, gender, education, race, health status, and utilization individually, but this difference predicts only 5% of patients' satisfaction ratings. This study provides areas of consideration for improving active Army patients' satisfaction in military facilities and suggests theoretically and empirically supported ways to prioritize scarce resources and optimize efforts when faced with constraints.