Family Medicine in Croatia: Quality Measured by Patients’ Subjective Satisfaction

Abstract

Na slučajnom uzorku od 50 timova obiteljske medicine, proporcionalno raspoređenih po svim županijama, ruralnim i urbanim područjima u Hrvatskoj, provedeno je istraživanje subjektivne procjene kvalitete u djelatnosti obiteljske medicine mjerenjem zadovoljstva osiguranika/pacijenata, korisnika zdravstvenih usluga, ispunjavanjem upitnika EUROPEP koji je 1999. godine proizvela radna skupina EQuiP za evaluaciju primarne zdravstvene zaštite putem korisnika (pacijenata). U istraživanju je aktivno sudjelovao 7.271 ispitanik (od ukupno distribuiranih 15.000 upitnika, odaziv je bio 48,47%), i to 3.189 ispitanika iz gradskih naselja, 838 iz prigradskih naselja, 2.051 sa sela i 92 koji žive na osami. Najbolje su prosječno ocijenjena pitanja “Čuva li liječnik osobne povjerljive podatke dobivene iz razgovora?”, “Spremnost sestre u ambulanti da pomogne pacijentu?” i “Dolazak na posao na vrijeme i pridržavanje radnog vremena?”, s 95% i više odgovora “zadovoljni” i “jako zadovoljni”. Najlošije su bila ocijenjena pitanja “Povezanost ambulante s ostalim dijelovima zdravstvenog sustava (bolnica, specijalisti, dijagnostika, ljekarne)?”, “Dostupnost ambulante javnim prijevozom?” i “Medicinska opremljenost ordinacije?”, s oko 75% odgovora “zadovoljni” i “jako zadovoljni”). Nešto lošije ocjene od ostalih davali su ispitanici koji žive na selu. Bolje ocjene od ostalih davali su ispitanici koji žive u prigradskom naselju. Slične obrasce ocjenjivanja imale su sve četiri skupine ispitanika, s tim da su skupine koje žive na selu i na osamljenom imanju davale niže ocjene o zadovoljstvu od druge dvije. S područja subjektivne procjene kliničke kvalitete najlošije ocjene od sve četiri skupine ispitanika po tipu/mjestu stanovanja dobilo je pitanje o zadovoljstvu ponudom preventivnih zdravstvenih usluga, a s područja subjektivne procjene kvalitete organizacije, najlošije ocjene dobilo je pitanje o povezanosti ordinacije s ostalim dijelovima zdravstvenog sustava. Velik je udio pacijenata izrazio nesigurnost kod prihvaćanja mišljenja općeg/obiteljskog liječnika nasuprot mišljenju liječnika specijalista. Potrebne su posebne poticajne mjere na razini sustava za navedena tri područja.A survey of the subjective assessment of quality in the fi eld of family medicine was conducted on a random sample of 50 family medicine teams distributed proportionally across all Croatian counties, and both rural and urban areas. It measured the satisfaction of insurants/patients, i.e. healthcare service users, on the basis of the completed EUROPEP questionnaire. The survey included 7.271 respondents (the response rate to 15.000 distributed questionnaires was 48.47%). Out of the total number of respondents, 3.189 came from urban settlements, 838 from suburbs, 2.051 from rural areas, and 92 lived out of populated areas. The questions related to physician-patient confi dentiality, willingness of nurses to help patients, and arrival at work on time and compliance with work schedule were best rated, with over 95% of respondents either “satisfi ed” or “very satisfi ed”. The questions related to the connections between the local clinic and other segments of the healthcare system (hospitals, specialists, diagnostics, pharmacies), accessibility of local clinics by public transport, and medical equipment in local clinics were rated worst, i.e. with only around 75% of answers “satisfi ed” and “highly satisfi ed”. Those living in rural areas gave somewhat lower ratings than other respondents, while suburbanites displayed the opposite trend. All four subject groups had similar rating patterns, except that the groups living in villages and out of populated areas rated their satisfaction lower than the other two groups. In the fi eld of the subjective assessment of clinical quality, the lowest ratings given by the four subject groups (according to type/place of residence) were related to the question of satisfaction with disease prevention services. In the area of the subjective assessment of organizational quality, the connections between local clinics and other segments of the healthcare system received the lowest ratings. A large number of patients were uncertain whether to accept the opinion of a general practitioner/family doctor or that of a medical specialist. Special incentives on the system level are needed to make improvements in the above areas rated as less satisfactory

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