Comparative Assessment of Patient Satisfaction with Nursing Care and its Determinants in Public and Private Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Patient satisfaction reflects how well nursing care meets patients' needs and expectations, given nurses' central role in inpatient care delivery. Public and private hospitals differ structurally, and while private hospitals sometimes show higher satisfaction, evidence suggests care delivery matters more than ownership itself.

Objective: To compare nursing-care satisfaction in public and private hospitals and identify factors independently associated with high satisfaction.

Methods: The study used analytical cross-sectional study design with a sample size of 360 adult inpatients, equally divided between public and private hospitals. Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales scores were transformed to 0–100. Reliability analysis, descriptive statistics, Independent-samples t test, chi-square analysis, and binary logistic regression were performed.

Results: Mean satisfaction was higher in the private hospital (M = 72.32, SD = 11.35) than in the public hospital (M = 64.12, SD = 11.07), Welch’s t(357.77) = −6.94, p < .001, mean difference = 8.19, 95% CI [5.87, 10.52], Hedges’ g = 0.73. High satisfaction occurred in 44.4% of private-hospital patients and 18.3% of public-hospital patients, χ²(1) = 27.29, p < .001. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.892 for satisfaction and 0.913 for experience. After adjustment, private ownership was not significant (aOR = 1.25, 95% CI [0.64, 2.41], p = .515). Higher cleanliness, privacy, and communication ratings increased the odds of high satisfaction, whereas longer waiting time, female gender, and surgical-ward admission reduced the odds.

Conclusion: The unadjusted public–private difference was substantial, but modifiable care-process factors were more informative than ownership after adjustment. Nursing quality improvement should prioritize communication, privacy, cleanliness, and timely responsiveness.