Patient Satisfaction Relative to Rural Population Trends in AJK, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was conducted in rural areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). New Basic Health Units (BHU) was introduced for primary health care that was ruined completely in the Earthquake of 2005. The study focused on measuring the satisfaction of patients from these new BHUs in rural areas of AJK. Furthermore,the study compares patient satisfaction across different demographic factors. The satisfaction was measured by the standard scale Key Quality Characteristics for Assessment of Hospitals (KQCAH). Measured patient satisfaction was compared across gender and marital status using independent samples t-test and correlation. The study showed that female patients were less satisfied than male patients. Being housewives, they utilize near by health services more than males. Patients of higher age were more satisfied than of lower age, while more educated people were less satisfied than educated ones. Single patients were less satisfied than married ones.Hence, there is needed to fulfill the needs of the population, considering their different demographic characteristics.