Neighbourhood quality and patient satisfaction in Southern Europe: Understanding the impact of place on healthcare perceptions.

• In Event: 41021 - Student Forum Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Roundtable 16: Open Topic

Abstract

This study examines the complex interplay between neighborhood quality and patient satisfaction with healthcare services, revealing distinct patterns across high-, medium-, and low-quality areas. Findings highlight that residents of high-quality neighborhoods often rate healthcare services lower due to elevated expectations, despite abundant resources. Medium-quality neighborhoods exhibit similar trends, albeit with slightly less critical evaluations. Conversely, residents of low-quality neighborhoods express dissatisfaction with infrastructural inadequacies while maintaining relatively positive perceptions of healthcare staff, emphasizing interpersonal care over systemic flaws.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional mixed-methods study in which questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups were conducted in a middle-sized city, Salamanca, Spain, between 2021 and 2024. The study population consisted of adults aged 18 to 71 years, of both sexes.
These results underscore the critical role of social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, infrastructure, and urban design, in shaping healthcare perceptions. High expectations in affluent areas amplify dissatisfaction when care falls short, whereas underserved communities prioritize gratitude for staff efforts amid structural inequities.
Future research should investigate how neighborhood dynamics influence healthcare perceptions longitudinally and explore the effectiveness of targeted interventions, such as patient-centered care models and infrastructural investments. Additionally, demographic factors, including gender and cultural background, warrant further exploration, alongside cross-cultural comparisons to uncover globally adaptable strategies.
The findings offer critical insights for policymakers and urban planners to design equitable, responsive healthcare systems tailored to the unique needs of diverse neighborhoods, emphasizing the integration of patient feedback and localized public health strategies.

Authors

• Áxel De León Marcos, University of Salamanca

• Delta Jeazul Ponce Hernández