Factors associated with the quality of outpatient service: The application of factor analysis – A case study

ABSTRACTBackground: Measuring patient satisfaction is a key factor in assessing the quality of patient care. Patient satisfaction outcomes are affected by many variables. Identifying and analyzing effective factors related to patients’ overall satisfaction constitutes an essential aspect of the study of modern healthcare.Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the factors vital to patients’ satisfaction with outpatient service.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was carried out from April to June 2015, consisting of 945 patients in the outpatient services division of King Fahd Hospital of the Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. Subjects were selected through the simple random sampling method, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was checked for validity and reliability using the Cronbach α coefficient and Reliability analysis. The factor analysis technique was used to find the most significant factors affecting patient satisfaction.Results: Exploratory fac...