Trends of consultation time, waiting time, and satisfaction in family medicine/primary health care centers in Saudi Arabia: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

Consultation and waiting times are critical determinants of patient satisfaction and healthcare efficiency in primary care settings. This study aims to systematically review and analyze consultation time trends, waiting time variations, and their impact on patient satisfaction in family medicine and primary health care (PHC) centers in Saudi Arabia. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Data were collected from electronic databases from 1990 to 2024. Studies included cross-sectional, cohort, and observational designs that examined consultation and waiting times in Saudi PHC settings. The Joanna Briggs Institute assessed study quality. Extracted data were consultation duration, waiting time, patient demographics, facility types, and satisfaction levels. The review analyzed 19 studies with 1,030,570 participants. In-person consultations lasted 5 to 10 minutes, virtual ones averaged 8 minutes, and telephone consultations took about 10 minutes. Urban PHC had an average wait time of 30.4 minutes, while rural settings reported 6 minutes. Longer consultations correlated with higher patient satisfaction and effectiveness. The meta-analysis estimated a pooled consultation time of 9.16 minutes, with significant heterogeneity (I² =99.87%). Satisfaction rates were over 70%, with telehealth via the Sehhaty app achieving up to 95.8%. Notably, longer waiting times led to lower satisfaction scores. There is significant variability in consultation and waiting times in PHC. There is a need to optimize consultation duration, reduce waiting times, and integrate digital health solutions. Future research should focus on standardizing consultation times, implementing evidence-based scheduling, and promoting patient-centered care.