Perceived Barriers to Primary Care Services Utilization and its Associations with Overall Satisfaction of Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Study

Abstract

Introduction: Primary care plays an integral role in modern healthcare systems. More so in a country that is currently undergoing a reform of its health system. Their remains barriers that hinder patients from seeking medical assistance from primary physicians. This study aims to examine the overall satisfaction of patients toward Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in Saudi Arabia, as well as its association with potential barriers from a sample of patients who presented at the emergency department (ED) for non-urgent cases. Methods: This cross-sectional study sampled 403 patients from King Fahd Hospital of the University. A piloted questionnaire was utilized that included questions on sociodemographics, satisfaction of PHCs, as well as organizational, socioeconomic, access, and patient-doctor relationship barriers using a Likert-scale item response. Chi-squared and Fisher’s Exact tests were used to compare categorical variables, and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between overall satisfaction and all factors and barriers. Results: The sample consisted of 48.1% males and 51.9% females. Only 5.2% of the patients were hospitalized. Of the total sample, 28.3% reported being always satisfied with PHC services. The most reported barriers were organizational barriers and socioeconomic barriers. The regression analysis found that being a female, highly educated, have high organizational, and patient-doctor relationship were independent predictors for low overall satisfaction with PHCs. Conclusion: Findings from this study should allow healthcare planners and policy makers to reduce the impact of these barriers by finding solutions that would target them. This may include strictly implementing policies such as proper implementing of triaging in EDs as well as promoting services that are being provided free of charge at these centers.

Barriers to routine checkups use among Saudis from the perspective of primary care providers

“…These 2 have been identified in other research as issues affecting patients' use of primary care and routine checkups in particular. 20,24,25 Mobile health clinics have been used to address geographic barriers (such as, no transportation) to health care. A mobile clinic tested in a rural region of the KSA was found overall to be very satisfying among the surveyed patients.…”

Primary Care Physicians’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Potential Referral Barriers towards Bariatric Surgery: A Northern Saudi Study

“…Barriers in the utilization of healthcare services, including bariatric services, are classified into different levels: organizational, care provider, and individual levels. Of all barriers, healthcare providers play a significant role in removing the obstacles to referring eligible patients for bariatric surgical management [31,32]. However, the current study found that more than half of the primary healthcare physicians had barriers in several categories.…”

Analysis of Emergency Department Use by Non-Urgent Patients and Their Visit Characteristics at an Academic Center

“…15,16 Despite the continuous improvement and gradually increasing patients' satisfaction in PHCC services, 17 Saudis tend to visit EDs for healthcare services when they are sick, perceiving their condition to be serious. 18,19 Previous studies have reported that a high volume of non-urgent visits is attributed to pain, upper-respiratory tract infection/symptoms, and the renewal of medication prescriptions. 5,7 This study investigates non-urgent ED visits in our current local setting at an academic medical center.…”