Client’s satisfaction towards emergency medical care at Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia

Abstract Background: As assessing client’s experience are important guide towards services improvement, providers will need to fully understand patient satisfaction level and their determinants. This study was aimed to assess the level of satisfaction towards the emergency medical care and associated factors at emergency department of Ayder specialized comprehensive hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1–30, 2019. Systematic random sampling method was used to enroll study participants. Data was collected using a standard Brief Emergency Department Patient Satisfaction Scale questionnaire by trained data collectors. Data was entered into EpiData 3.1 then exported and analyzed by SPSS version 22. Binary and multiple logistic regression was used to assess the predictor’s patient satisfaction.Results: A total of 299 participants were enrolled in the study with a response rate of 99.3%. The overall client’s satisfaction was 81.9%. The lowest satisfaction rate was reported towards emergency room environment, and patient family satisfaction 37.5%, and 49.8% respectively. Educational status those who were able to read and write (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.4, 10, P = 0.008), those who arrived during the morning shift of the day (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.6, 8.7, p = 0.002), those who waited < 15 minutes to be seen by a doctor (AOR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.003, 1.4), having felt discriminated (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.003, 1.4) were significantly associated determinants of client satisfaction.Conclusions: The overall client’s satisfaction in this study was found to be good. There is a low satisfaction towards emergency room environment and patient’s family courtesy. It is important to readjust emergency room services to improve client’s courtesy, avoid feeling of discrimination by clients and overall to improve the quality of care in the emergency department.