Accessibility and quality of medical care in public out-patient clinics and private medical centers of the Amur oblast as reported by patients with back pain

Abstract

Aim. To study the opinion of patients with low back pain of judgement of assessibility and quality of medical care in public and private medical centers. Methods. Back pain patients to assess the quality of medical care filled in specially designed questionnaires for each type of medical facilities (two types of questionnaires for each patient who underwent treatment in both outpatient public clinics and private medical centers, total of 600 questionnaires). The poll was anonymous and was performed at one of the private medical centers in august 2013. Patients were randomly picked out from all patients who seek for medical aid in private center being unsatisfied with the quality of medical aid offered at public medical centers or who were on the waiting list for a doctor visit, or with disease worsening not within the working hours of public medical centers (600 questionnaires). The poll included patients of active working age: men aged 20 to 60 years (118 patients, 39.3%) and females aged 20 to 55 years (182 patients, 60.7%). Results. The majority of patients were more satisfied with the quality of the treatment, examination and attitude of medical personnel in private medical centers compared to public institutions. The following issues of providing medical aid to back pain patients were discovered both in private and public settings: untimely referral to specialist, or consultation only by general practitioner without subsequent consultation of neurologist, long waiting lists, incomplete neurologic examination, and low qualification of doctors in choosing appropriate examinations, treatment approach and further prophylaxis. Abovementioned issues were more significant in public settings. Conclusion. The research showed that there is a need in developing uniform standards of medical care in case of a back pain in outpatients that do not yet exist.