Patient satisfaction and associated factors with inpatient health services at public hospitals in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The way the healthcare delivery system is reflected by patient satisfaction. Establishing a health system with better results depends on it. It has been assumed that higher patient satisfaction levels correlate with quality healthcare outcomes. There is little national data to support patient satisfaction with inpatient health services in Ethiopia. In order to estimate the pooled proportion of patient satisfaction and determine the associated factors with inpatient health services at public hospitals, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed in the extraction of the data. To get the included studies, the following electronic databases were searched: Pub-Med, Google Scholar, Med-Line, Web of Science, Scopus and Repositories. Software called STATA version 17 was used to analyze statistical data using the random effects model. Forest plots were used to display the pooled results. Of the 1583 records resulted in electronic databases searching, 11 studies with 3,958 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The estimated pooled proportion of patient satisfaction with inpatient health services was found to be 57.4% (95% CI: 50.88-64.59, I = 95.25%). Assuring privacy for patients (OR = 7.44, 95% CI: 3.63-15.25, I = 0.0%), availability of direction signs (2.96, 95% CI: 1.91-4.57, I = 0.0%), providing adequate information (OR = 3.27, 95% CI: 1.63-6,58, I = 65.60%), history of previous admission (OR = 0.29, 0.18-0.46, I = 86.36%) and providing on time treatment (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.21-2.20, I = 86.36%) were statistically significant factors associated with patient satisfaction with inpatient health services. The estimated pooled level of patient satisfaction with inpatient health services is low in Ethiopia. A higher level of patient satisfaction with inpatient health treatments was predicted by factors such as privacy assurance, fast services, availability of direction signs, provision of services with adequate information transfer, and no history of previous admission. To improve patient satisfaction, the Ministry of Health and hospital administration must place a strong emphasis on ensuring the provision of high-quality, standard-based inpatient healthcare.