Patient Satisfaction with Outpatient Physiotherapy Services: A Cross-Sectional Study in Erbil, Iraq

Background and Objectives: Patient satisfaction is increasingly recognized as a key indica-tor of healthcare quality. Physiotherapy services, in particular, play a vital role in rehabili-tation and patient-centered care. This study addresses a regional gap by systematically evaluating patient satisfaction with outpatient physiotherapy services in Erbil, Iraq. This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with outpatient physiotherapy services, identify key factors influencing satisfaction, and provide evidence-based recommendations for improving service delivery. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to October 2024 involving 303 patients from governmental and private physiotherapy centers in Erbil. Data were collected via structured interviews using a validated 13-item satisfaction questionnaire covering administrative processes, comfort, therapist communication, and overall experi-ence. Demographic data were also recorded. Statistical analysis included descriptive sta-tistics and chi-square tests, with significance set at P-value ≤ 0.05. Results: The majority of participants were female (72%). Satisfaction was highest for ad-ministrative processes and staff courtesy (48.5% rated 'very good'), facility comfort and relaxation (38% rated 'very good'), and overall recommendation of services (42.2% 'very good'). Overall, 38.3% rated services as 'good' while only 1.7% rated them as 'poor'. All domains showed statistically significant associations with overall satisfaction (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients reported generally high levels of satisfaction with outpatient physi-otherapy services in Erbil. Improvements are needed in treatment explanations and pa-tient education. These findings highlight the importance of patient-centered approaches to strengthening healthcare quality.