Study of the Physical Environment of Waiting Areas and Its Effects on Patient Satisfaction, Experience, Perceived Waiting Time, and Behavior in China.

Objectives: This study examines the physical environment in the outpatient waiting area and its effects on overall satisfaction, experience, perceived waiting time, and behavior.

Background: Waiting can be a frustrating experience for patients. Previous studies on waiting areas in hospitals have been rooted mainly in the Western cultural context, and research focusing on the impact of the physical environment on the waiting experience with the denser patient concentration in China is important.