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

Lulua Alasousi, Abdullah M. Al-Harran, Wafa Al-Rasheedi, Abdulaziz Thawini

Background and objectives 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. Methods 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). Results Principal component analysis confirmed a unidimensional scale structure (KMO = 0.949; Bartlett’s χ 2 = 2,210, df = 21, p < 0.001). Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s α = 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 χ 2 = 24.60, df = 4, p < 0.001, ε 2 = 0.098); no significant differences were found by nationality or gender. Conclusion 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.