comparison of patient satisfaction with self-operating food services and contracting food services in the teaching hospitals of tabriz, iran

Background: nutritional satisfaction is essential to the reduction of hospital costs given the faster recovery of patients. food satisfaction may be influenced by self-operating or contracting food service management. this descriptive study was aimed to assess patient satisfaction with the dinner served in two hospitals of tabriz, iran by contracting and a self-operating system in 214 participants during april-may 2014.methods: data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire with 20 items on demographic and food satisfaction data. data analysis was performed in spss, and the intragroup and intergroup differences were evaluated and compared at the significant p-value of less than 0.05.results: overall food satisfaction was significantly higher in hospital a (contracting food service) compared to hospital b (self-operating food service) (p < 0.001). in addition, a negative correlation was observed between food satisfaction and the literacy level of the subjects. having a companion also reduced the satisfaction score of the patients.conclusion: our findings could provide useful information for the legislation of new policies to increase the food satisfaction of inpatients and exploit its advantages, while contributing to the decision-making regarding the choice of financial support for hospital food services.