Applying logistic regression analysis to identify patient’s satisfaction predictors with general practitioner assistance: evidence from four Italian regions.

In the last years the interest for patient experience with health care services largely increased. Several surveys have been conducted in order to observe if health care systems answer to the overall patient needs. In 2000 World Health Organization challenged modern health care providers to ensure responsiveness to patients, i.e. to deliver also non-health assistance (respect for dignity, confidentiality, prompt attention, quality of amenities, access to social support networks, choice of provider, etc.). Poor evidence is available in Italy about connections between perceived quality and the capability of the healthcare system to respond to patients’ needs. This work aims at investigating patient experience with General Practitioner (GP) assistance and at measuring the impact of personal and organizational characteristics on overall satisfaction and on willingness to recommend. In 2009 a sample survey was conducted in four regions of Italy (Tuscany, Piedmont, Umbria, and Liguria). About 15.000 citizens answered to a large questionnaire related to Primary Care services, including a section dedicated to General Practitioner (GP) assistance. A logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze which are the predictors of overall satisfaction with GP, focusing mainly on variables related to patient’s expectations, continuity of care and organizational aspects (e.g. scheduled access, waiting time, health case history, etc.) and if there are differences across the four Italian Regions. Econometric analysis has been carried out through both ordered logistic regression and generalised ordered logit models. The inhabitants of the four Italian Regions refer a nice experience with GP assistance: more than 85% of them judged excellent or good the overall service. Generally, in some regions patient expectations affect more the willingness to recommend GP to friends or family members than the overall judgement on service. Besides, the findings provide convincing evidence that GP is a nodal point in the continuity of care process .: patient satisfaction, general practitioner, organizational aspects, continuity of care

L’esperienza dei cittadini del servizio di medicina generale: come la comunicazione influenza la relazione medico – paziente. Quattro regioni a confronto.

Background La letteratura internazionale evidenzia che la relazione tra medico e paziente influisce sulla valutazione complessiva dei servizi sanitari. Obiettivi Il paper si concentra sull’assistenza offerta dai medici di famiglia (MMG) e si propone di analizzare come la comunicazione tra medico e paziente influenza la soddisfazione complessiva a seconda del profilo socio-demografico dell’utente. Metodologia Nel 2009 è stata condotta un’indagine campionaria sui servizi di medicina territoriale. Oltre 15.500 cittadini assistiti in Liguria, Piemonte, Toscana ed Umbria hanno risposto ad un questionario somministrato telefonicamente. Sui dati sono state condotte analisi descrittive e applicati modelli di regressione semplice. Risultati e conclusioni: La soddisfazione complessiva per il servizio offerto dai medici di famiglia è elevata: in media oltre l’85% dei cittadini esprime una valutazione positiva. È risultato inoltre che alcuni elementi della comunicazione medico-paziente condizionano positivamente tali giudizi, con differenze significative per età, sesso, titolo di studio e stato di salute percepito dei rispondenti. La responsiveness dei medici di famiglia deve perciò tenere sempre più conto anche delle differenti e crescenti aspettative dei pazienti.soddisfazione pazienti, medicina generale, relazione medico-paziente

Attitudes Toward and Use of Over-The-Counter Medications among Teenagers: Evidence from an Italian Study

In recent years, the consumption of Over-The-Counter (OTC) drugs has increased. Previous studies have pointed out that the OTC medications are misused and abused by teenagers, who often show poor knowledge of the toxicity of these drugs. The paper aims to analyze the use of OTCs by teenagers and the factors that influence their consumption. This paper is based on quantitative data. A web-based survey was administered to the students of an Italian high school. The questionnaire included queries on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the students with regard to OTCs. Since teenagers are influenced by their families, their approach to healthcare was also investigated. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted in order to determine the key factors influencing their attitudes toward the use of medications. Finally, a cluster analysis was run in order to identify different behavioral segments. Results show that four factors (tradition, social communication, self-management, and caution) influence the attitudes and behaviors of teenagers toward OTC medicines. The research also highlighted that attitudes toward the use of OTC medicines varied among the respondents, who were grouped into three different clusters: their presence implies the need for targeted educational programs, involving teenagers and their families

La segmentazione comportamentale dei pazienti non urgenti in Pronto Soccorso: specificità degli utenti frequent user ed occasionali

Negli ultimi anni il servizio di Pronto Soccorso si è caratterizzato per un costante incremento degli accessi. Tra questi hanno assunto un peso rilevante quelli effettuati da pazienti con codici minori, segnaletici di bisogni di prestazioni non urgenti. La letteratura ha inoltre spesso rilevato che sono proprio questi pazienti ad essere maggiormente insoddisfatti per il servizio ricevuto. Il paper si propone pertanto di analizzare le caratteristiche dei pazienti non urgenti del servizio di Pronto Soccorso, focalizzando l’attenzione su due cluster comportamentali, i frequent user ed i pazienti al primo accesso, con la finalità di comprenderne le specificità e le determinanti della soddisfazione, utili a meglio gestire l’erogazione del servizio nei loro confronti, incrementarne la soddisfazione ed evitare che i pazienti al primo accesso si trasformino in frequent user

The patient needs and the answer general practitioner: the Italian citizens experience.

none3C. PANERO;A. M. MURANTE;G. PERUCCAPanero, CINZIA MARIA RITA; A. M., Murante; G., Perucc