Abstract
Original Research Article
Full Article (FREE DOWNLOAD)
SMJS Volume 3 Issue 1, Page 5- Page 10
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PATIENT'S CHOICE OF A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, TABUK, SAUDI ARABIA, 2018
Ahmed Saeed Alshahrani, Abdulaziz Nasser Albalawi, Marwan Saleh Albalawi, Basel Mohammed Abualreesh, Abdaleluh Khaled Almesar, Abdulrahman Abdullah Alelyani, Hyder Osman Mirghani
Background: There is an increasing awareness regarding the patient's choice of a healthcare provider. Data are scarce regarding this important issue in Saudi Arabia.
Substance and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 506 adults randomly selected in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, from June 2018 to September 2018. Participants responded to an electronic-based checklist to collect the demographic data, preference to choose a specific doctor, recommending a doctor to family and friends, the effects of a doctor's character and nationality, the importance of discussion of the treatment options available and counseling, the importance of the clinical examination to the patient, and the effect of medical insurance on the choice of a healthcare provider. The ethical committee of the Medical College, University of Tabuk, approved the research, and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for data analysis.
Results: Participants (79.2% males), their age was 28.06 ± 15.42 years, 61.2% preferred a specific doctor, the most important influential factors were counseling and discussion of the treatment options (.97.4% and 98.2% respectively), nationality and medical insurance was cited by 51.9% and 57.3% respectively, good hospital practice in 75.7%, friends recommendation (34.7%), proximity to home (22.7%), less crowded hospital (20.8%), physician nationalities (5.9%), physician's gender( 4%), and proximity to work (2.4%)
Conclusion: The most important factor influencing the doctor preference was Doctor/patient relationship. Other factors were of less importance.
Keywords: Healthcare provider, patient's preference, Physicians, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
To cite this article: Alshahrani AS, Albalawi AN , Albalawi MS, Abualreesh BM, Almesar AK, Alelyani AA. Mirghani HO. Factors Influencing The Patient's Choice Of A Healthcare Provider, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, 2018. Saudi Med J Students. 2022;3(1): 34-40
