An Analysis of Factors Affecting Satisfaction in Commissioned Veteran Hospitals: Focusing on Region, Hospital Type, and Number of Respondents

Abstract

This study analyzes the factors influencing overall satisfaction among veteran patients based on a survey conducted at 405 commissioned hospitals across South Korea. The dependent variable was the average score of eight satisfaction categories: Usefulness, Responsiveness, Expertise, Empathy, Convenience, Psychological Comfort, Trust, and Public Interest. Independent variables included jurisdictional region, type of medical institution, and number of survey respondents. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted. Results showed that hospitals in the Daegu region had significantly higher satisfaction compared to the reference region (Central), with a coefficient of +0.1723 (p = 0.0004). Furthermore, tertiary general hospitals recorded higher satisfaction levels than other institution types, while clinics showed lower average scores with greater variability. Although the number of respondents impacted the reliability of the results, its influence on satisfaction scores was statistically limited. These findings quantitatively demonstrate that regional infrastructure and institutional structure are critical factors influencing patient satisfaction. The study suggests the need for region-specific performance monitoring systems and standardized care protocols in future healthcare policy design. 1