Comparing public and private hospitals' service quality

Background Saudi Arabia's health care system has undergone major changes in recent years to enhance the quality of the services it renders to the community. This study is designed to measure the quality of health care services from the patients' perspective and to compare the service quality of public and private hospitals in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Methods The study has a quantitative cross-sectional design, with a questionnaire based on the SERVQUAL dimensional model. It was a random sample of 258 inpatients at private and public hospitals in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Results Patients at private hospitals perceived a higher level of quality of the health care services (t = 3.390, p < 0.01). Conclusions Further research on the financial and leadership dimensions of health care quality will contribute to improved planning for health care services.