User satisfaction in the spanish health system: trend analysis.

Objective: To analyze the trend of opinion and satisfaction indicators of the Spanish national health system from 2005 to 2017.

Methods: Ecological study of time series analyzing the trend of eight indicators of opinion and satisfaction on the Spanish national health system and its autonomous communities from 2005 to 2017. The data was obtained from the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality and from the Health Barometer. The Prais-Winsten regression method was used.

Results: A static tendency was observed in the perception of users on how the health system works (APC = 1.898, 95%CI -0.954 - 4.751) and decreasing opinion on the improvement of primary care (APC = -0.283; 95%CI -0.335 - -0.121), specialized (APC = -0.241, 95%CI -0.74 - -0.109) and hospitalization (APC = -0.171, 95%CI -0.307 - -0.036). Satisfaction with knowledge and follow-up by the family doctor and pediatrician showed an increasing trend (APC = 7.939, 95%CI 3.965 - 11.914). Satisfaction with medical and nursing professionals was static. No large differences were observed in the trends of the indicators studied in the autonomous communities.

Conclusions: A negative trend was observed in the opinion of the Spanish national health system users. Financing, human resources, quality management systems and differences in the autonomous communities may be some of the causes.