To determine the level of patient satisfaction in hospitals in Kerman and to determine the factors affecting satisfaction, we did an analytic cross-sectional study on 3017 patients from March 2002 to March 2003. We used a 4-part questionnaire covering demographics, satisfaction, patients' needs and mental health status. Just over 50% of the patients were female. Mean age was 37.4 years (range 1-99 years). Just under 50% of patients were satisfied. There was a significant relationship between satisfaction and type of hospital (P < 0.001), ward (P < 0.006), education level (P < 0.004), history of hospitalization (P< 0.001), need for medical services (P < 0.001), health status (P< 0.001) and duration of hospitalization (P < 0.0029).