Patient's Satisfaction with Health Care: a Questionnaire Study of Different Aspects of Care.

Aim: To determine the influence of sociodemographic factors on patients´ satisfaction with health care system.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 1,995 patients from 12 municipalities of Zenica-Doboj Canton were interviewed after a visit to the practice. Individual interviews were conducted and the questionnaire was made on the basis of EUROPEP (European Task Force on Patient Evaluations of General Practice Care) standardized questionnaire.

Results: Out of the total number patients, 47.1% were females, 47.9% were from urban population and median of age was 42.0 years (IQR = 30.0 to 53.0 years). The rural population was more likely to buy drugs for medical treatment (p < 0.001) and parenteral injections in primary care practice (p < 0.001). Patients with lower level of education were more likely: to be ordered for physical examination (p = 0.001), to buy drugs for medical treatment (p = 0.001), to buy parenteral injections in primary care practice (p < 0.001); to pay unofficially to someone from medical staff (p < 0.001); to feel that they could be better treated (p = 0.032) and they had longer waiting for health service in primary care practice (p < 0.001). Older population had better assessment of secondary (p = 0.040) and tertiary health care practices (p = 0.034); needed more time is needed to reach health facilities (p = 0.016), longer waiting for health service in primary care practice (p < 0.001); more likely to have health problems in the past 12 months but they did not request medical treatment (p = 0.008); more likely to be ordered for physical examination (p < 0.001); more likely to buy drugs for medical treatment (p = 0.004); more likely to buy parenteral injections in primary care practice (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The following variables: gender, age, overall perception of health status and financial status appear to be predictors of patients´ satisfaction.