The influence of service quality, physician communication, and patient trust on outpatient satisfaction in hospitals
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33024/minh.v8i12.1896
Doctor Communication Outpatient Satisfaction Patient Satisfaction Patient Trust Service Quality
Abstract
Background: Patient satisfaction is a key indicator of hospital service quality and is influenced by service quality, doctor–patient communication, and patient trust, particularly in outpatient care.
Purpose: To analyze the effects of service quality, doctor communication, and patient trust on outpatient satisfaction based on patients' experiences in hospitals.
Method: Quantitative cross-sectional study involved 182 participants who had used outpatient services and were asked to rate one hospital they had previously visited. Data were collected using a Likert-scale questionnaire measuring service quality, doctor communication, patient trust, and patient satisfaction, and were analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4.1 through evaluation of the measurement and structural models.
Results: The model yielded an R² of 0.711 for patient satisfaction, a Q² of 0.449, and a Goodness of Fit of 0.679. Service quality (β=0.458; p<0.001), doctor communication (β=0.304; p=0.001), and patient trust (β=0.175; p=0.039) had positive and statistically significant effects on patient satisfaction, with service quality being the most dominant predictor.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of improving service quality, strengthening doctor, patient communication, and fostering patient trust to enhance patient satisfaction.
Downloads
References
Cendana, M. Y. (2024). Factors influencing outpatient satisfaction in hospitals: Literature review. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 21(3), 650-656.
Cha Y. J. (2025). Key Factors Influencing Outpatient Satisfaction in Chronic Disease Care: Insights from the 2023 Korea HSES. Healthcare, 13(6), 655.
Chen, X., Liu, C., Yan, P., Wang, H., Xu, J., & Yao, K. (2025). The impact of doctor–patient communication on patient satisfaction in outpatient settings: Implications for medical training and practice. BMC Medical Education, 25(830), 1-10.
Darzi, M. A., Islam, S. B., Khursheed, S. O., & Bhat, S. A. (2023). Service quality in the healthcare sector: A systematic review and meta-analysis. LBS Journal of Management Research, 21(1), 13–39.
Dugan, E., Trachtenberg, F., & Hall, M. A. (2005). Development of abbreviated measures to assess patient trust in a physician, a health insurer, and the medical profession. BMC Health Services Research, 5(64).
Endeshaw, B. (2021). Healthcare service quality-measurement models: A review. Journal of Health Research, 35(2), 106–117.
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Hall, M. A., Zheng, B., Dugan, E., Camacho, F., Kidd, K. E., Mishra, A., & Balkrishnan, R. (2002). Measuring patients' trust in their primary care physicians. Medical Care Research and Reviews, 59(3), 293–318.
Hasibuan, R. (2025). Hospital outpatient waiting time and patient satisfaction: An observational comparative study. Social Medicine, 18(2), 141-152.
Hutadjulu, R. P., Budidharmanto, L. P., & Padmalia, M. (2026). The Influence of Service Quality and Communication Moderated by Patient Trust on Patient Satisfaction. Journal Research of Social Science, Economics, and Management, 5(6), 9731–9747.
Jameel, A., Sahito, N., Guo, W., & Khan, S. (2025). Assessing patient satisfaction with practitioner communication: Patient-centered care, hospital environment and patient trust in the public hospital. Frontiers in Medicine, 12, 1544498.
Larson, E., Sharma, J., Bohren, M. A., & Tunçalp, Ö. (2019). When the patient is the expert: Measuring patient experience and satisfaction with care. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 97(8), 563–569.
Makoul, G., Krupat, E., & Chang, C. H. (2007). Measuring patient views of physician communication skills: Development and testing of the Communication Assessment Tool. Patient Education and Counseling, 67(3), 333–342.
Marshall, G. N., & Hays, R. D. (1994). The Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire Short-Form (PSQ-18). RAND Corporation.
Noviyani, A., & Viwattanakulvanid, P. (2024). Exploring patients' perspectives on healthcare service quality in outpatient settings at a public hospital in Palembang, Indonesia: A qualitative study. Belitung Nursing Journal, 10(6), 703–711.
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2019). Health at a glance 2019: OECD indicators. OECD Publishing. Retrieved from: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/health-at-a-glance-2019_4dd50c09-en.html
Owusu, A. A., Boakye, K., Boateng, D., Osei-Mensah, C., & Agyei-Baffour, P. (2024). Patient satisfaction with quality of care at out-patient departments in selected health facilities in Kumasi, Ghana. BMC Health Services Research, 24(1027).
Shie, A.-J., Huang, Y.-F., Li, G.-Y., Lyu, W.-Y., Yang, M., Dai, Y.-Y., Su, Z.-H., & Wu, Y. J. (2022). Exploring the relationship between hospital service quality, patient trust, and loyalty from a service encounter perspective in elderly with chronic diseases. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 876266.
Thayaparan, A. J., & Mahdi, E. (2013). The Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form (PSQ-18) as an adaptable, reliable, and validated tool for measuring patient satisfaction in diverse settings. Medical Education Online, 18(1), 21747.
World Health Organization. (2024). Quality Health Services. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/quality-health-service.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Florida Bhoki, Syahriza Naufal Kingwijati, Sinta Poernomo, Jessica Sharma

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.