Propensity Score Matching Analysis of the Influence of Waiting Time Satisfaction on Community Resident’s Satisfaction With Medical Institutions: An Extensive Survey of Outpatient Population in Shantou City of Southern China

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to perform a nuanced analysis of the multifaceted association between community residents’ satisfaction and their perceived satisfaction concerning the visit duration at medical facilities, that could be harnessed to enhance and streamline the process of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment, thereby augmenting healthcare outcomes and patient experiences. Methods: Respondents who had utilized services from medical institutions were invited to fill out questionnaires by scanning QR codes. Additionally, surveys also distributed questionnaires through WeChat groups of community residents in densely populated areas of the community, as well as WeChat groups for patients who had previously visited local hospitals. To balance differences between groups, propensity score matching was applied to analyze the contrast between residents satisfied and dissatisfied with their medical visits. After eliminating the interference of confounding factors, a comparative analysis was conducted on the relationship between resident satisfaction and medical institution experience.After eliminating the interference of confounding factors, a comparative analysis was conducted to delve deeply into the relationship between residents’ satisfaction and their experiences at medical facilities. Results: The study incorporated a large dataset encompassing 2356 community residents. Upon successful propensity score matching, logistic regression analysis elucidated several determinants of overall resident satisfaction. Notably, the grade of the medical institution (χ 2 = 8.226, P < .05), satisfaction with the time invested in the registration process (χ 2 = 11.04, P < .05), satisfaction with the waiting duration for consultation (χ 2 = 15.759, P < .05), and satisfaction with the travel time to the hospital (χ 2 = 45.157, P < .05) each exerted significant influence on the holistic satisfaction of residents with their medical experience. Conclusion: Factors such as the grade of the medical institution, satisfaction related to registration and waiting durations, and travel time to the hospital emerged as crucial determinants shaping community residents’ holistic satisfaction with their medical encounters. These findings underscore the exigency for strategic allocation and optimization of medical resources, refinement of the classification system, and enhancement of public health education on the graded diagnosis and treatment schema. The study also demonstrates the value of employing advanced propensity score matching and predictive modelling techniques in health services research.