Service Quality and Patient Satisfaction in Pharmacy Settings: A Systematic Review Using SERVQUAL Dimensions

Background: Service quality is a fundamental determinant of patient satisfaction in pharmacy services. SERVQUAL, consisting of Tangibles, Reliability, Responsiveness, Assurance, and Empathy, is widely applied; however, the magnitude and consistency of its association with satisfaction vary by context. Objective: To synthesize available evidence on the relationship between SERVQUAL dimensions and patient satisfaction in hospital and community pharmacy settings amid growing digital healthcare adoption. Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A total of 8,225 records were screened from Google Scholar and PubMed. Twelve quantitative studies conducted between 2017–2025 met inclusion criteria. The JBI Cross-Sectional Critical Appraisal Checklist was applied to assess methodological rigor. Results: All studies showed positive satisfaction outcomes, but predictive power varied across settings. In community pharmacies, medicine supply, environment, and communication were dominant satisfaction predictors. Meanwhile, reliability, assurance, and empathy were most influential in hospital pharmacies. Several studies reported non-significant effects for responsiveness and tangibles, indicating expectation–performance discrepancies and contextual constraints. Digital service readiness appears to influence patient experience but is rarely assessed using SERVQUAL. Conclusion: SERVQUAL remains a robust predictor of pharmacy service satisfaction; however, its impact is context-dependent. Strategic integration of SERVQUAL into digital transformation processes such as electronic prescriptions, automated dispensing, and digital queue systems will be essential to maintain quality and patient-centered outcomes.