[Patient complaints: an opportunity to improve the quality of care of older people with multimorbidity in Burkina Faso].

Introduction: Little data exist on patient complaints to identify the strategy for the improvement of the quality of care of older people with multimorbidities. The aim of this study was to investigate the complaints of older people with multimorbidities at the health care facilities in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the health care facilities in Bobo-Dioulasso from November 2013 to February 2014. Older people aged 60 years or more, with at least a chronic disease, examined in ambulatory or in hospital during the study period were included. Qualitative interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. A content analysis was performed.

Results: We recorded the complaints related to long waiting time for health care, unsuitable hospital transfer service, lack of shared information on diseases and unsuitable hospitality conditions for older patients come to consultation and hospitalization.

Conclusion: Improvement strategies should include the renovation and extension of the waiting rooms in the health care facilities, the separation of chronic care practice from acute care practice in ambulatory and in hospital, the support to the empowerment through a better communication with the patient, a community mutual assistance group and the involvement of family members.