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Alsubahi N, Pavlova M, Alzahrani AA, Ahmad A, Groot W. Healthcare Quality from the Perspective of Patients in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: A Systematic Literature Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:315. [PMID: 38338200 PMCID: PMC10855039 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12030315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
With the increased focus on patient-centered care, consensus on healthcare outcomes of importance to patients becomes crucial. Based on a systematic review of the literature, this study confirms the perspectives of patients on healthcare quality in GCC countries. Online databases were searched for relevant peer-reviewed articles published from 2012 to 2023. Twenty-two articles retrieved from the search were qualitatively analyzed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Most articles (90%) reported studies conducted in Saudi Arabia. Patients in GCC countries face common problems in the care delivery process, which contribute to negative perceptions of quality. These problems include diagnostic and medication errors, provider-patient communication problems, missed appointments with physicians, problems in emergency care access due to geographical distance and transportation barriers, long waiting times, and physical environments. Notably, healthcare quality is perceived to be an outcome of multiple factors dependent on the location and category of healthcare service providers; for instance, disparities in perceptions of quality were observed between patients attending Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in rural and urban areas. Issues such as lack of equitable healthcare delivery and deficiencies in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) effectiveness were disparately recognized as quality concerns by different patient populations. The findings provide insights into healthcare quality and area of weakness needing strategies and policies to ensure patient-centered, safe, equitable, timely, and effective healthcare. Healthcare providers and policymakers in GCC countries can use the results to plan, assess, and improve care delivery. Trial registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42022326842.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nizar Alsubahi
- Department of Health Services Research, Care and Public Health Research Institute—CAPHRI, Maastricht University Medical Center, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (M.P.); (A.A.A.); (W.G.)
- Department of Health Service and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Milena Pavlova
- Department of Health Services Research, Care and Public Health Research Institute—CAPHRI, Maastricht University Medical Center, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (M.P.); (A.A.A.); (W.G.)
| | - Ahmed Ali Alzahrani
- Department of Health Services Research, Care and Public Health Research Institute—CAPHRI, Maastricht University Medical Center, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (M.P.); (A.A.A.); (W.G.)
- Department of Health Service and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ala’eddin Ahmad
- Digital Marketing Department, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan;
| | - Wim Groot
- Department of Health Services Research, Care and Public Health Research Institute—CAPHRI, Maastricht University Medical Center, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (M.P.); (A.A.A.); (W.G.)
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