Paper Title
IMPROVING PATIENT COMPLIANCE TO ACHIEVE SATISFATION: THE CASE OF LOW BACK PAIN PHYSIOTHERAPY PRACTICES IN KUWAIT

Abstract
Abstract - Globally, over the last decades, there has been an increase in investigating the views of patients on healthcare services. However, in developing countries patients perceptions toward healthcare have seemed to be largely ignored. This ignorance may lead patients to lose faith in public and private hospitals and to look for healthcare services in other countries (And alee bet al. 2007). Physiotherapy service is one of the most important healthcare services that are concerned about maximizing the quality of life of patients by improving their physical abilities. However, achieving satisfaction in physiotherapy is harder than any other healthcare service because the success and effectiveness of physiotherapy programs depends mainly on patient compliance to treatment recommendations. The aim of this study was investigate the determinants of patient compliance and satisfaction in physiotherapy for Low Back Pain (LBP), the most prevailing musculoskeletal disorder worldwide. This study employed quantitative research where 59-item survey questionnaire was distributed in three public and three private physiotherapy departments in Kuwait for LPB patients after receiving the final session of their scheduled physiotherapy session. A sample size of 342 patients was obtained and analyzed. According to the findings of the study, the Discriminant analysis revealed that patient satisfaction in physiotherapy departments in Kuwait is mainly influenced by goal attainment. However, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) has also shown direct influence of perceived service quality (in all its dimensions) and motivation on satisfaction. It was also found that determinants of satisfaction differ between public and private hospitals. In the public hospitals the main determinant of satisfaction is the goal attainment while in the private hospitals the main determinant of satisfaction comes from the physical environment quality. The local physiotherapy departments are recommended to reconsider the importance of having better communication skills and motivation programs with patients in order to increase their compliance which consequently influences their goal attainment in overcoming pain and preventing their back condition to worsen and increasing the quality of their lives. Keywords - Patient satisfaction, patient compliance, perceived service quality, physiotherapist participation, patient participation, goal attainment, low back pain, physiotherapy, Kuwait