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Research Article: Patient satisfaction with the implementation of the family medicine model at Nassem Health Centre, Kuwait

Date Published: 2026-07-23

Abstract:
Primary health care centres (PHCCs) are the foundation stone of Kuwait’s public healthcare system, providing accessible and comprehensive services. Patient satisfaction is a critical indicator of healthcare quality and is associated with improved adherence to medical advice and better health outcomes. Despite international evidence supporting structured family medicine and appointment-based systems, Kuwait’s PHCCs continue to operate primarily on a walk-in basis. This study aimed to describe patient satisfaction with a family medicine appointment clinic at the Nassem PHCC in Kuwait. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted between September 2024 and September 2025. The extended recruitment period was necessary to achieve an sufficient sample and capture routine service-utilisation patterns across a full annual cycle. Consecutive patients attending the family medicine appointment clinic were recruited using convenience sampling. A validated, self-administered seven-item questionnaire assessed satisfaction with the doctor–patient relationship using a five-point Likert scale (1?=?Very Dissatisfied to 5?=?Very Satisfied). After excluding 11 incomplete records from 264 initial responses, the final analytic sample comprised 253 participants. All analyses were conducted in Jamovi (version 2.5). Principal component analysis confirmed a unidimensional scale structure (KMO?=?0.949; Bartlett’s ? 2 =?2,210, df =?21, p <?0.001). Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s ? =?0.969). Item means ranged from 4.67 to 4.76, with 74.0–81.0% of respondents selecting the highest satisfaction category across all items, indicating a pronounced ceiling effect. The composite satisfaction score was obviously negatively skewed (skewness?=??3.59, kurtosis?=?18.0). A statistically significant age-group difference in satisfaction was observed (Kruskal–Wallis ? 2 =?24.60, df =?4, p <?0.001, ? 2 =?0.098); no significant differences were found by nationality or gender. Patients attending the Nassem PHCC family medicine appointment clinic reported high Overall Satisfaction. A significant age-related variation was observed, with older patients reporting higher satisfaction than younger adults. Ceiling effects, cross-sectional design, convenience sampling, and potential social desirability bias limit the conclusions that can be drawn. Future research should employ longitudinal designs, comparator groups, and more sensitive instruments.

Introduction:
Primary health care centres (PHCCs) are the foundation stone of Kuwait’s public healthcare system, providing accessible and comprehensive services. Patient satisfaction is a critical indicator of healthcare quality and is associated with improved adherence to medical advice and better health outcomes. Despite international evidence supporting structured family medicine and appointment-based systems, Kuwait’s PHCCs continue to operate primarily on a walk-in basis. This study aimed to describe patient satisfaction…

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