Analysis on satisfaction and demands for community healthcare of elderly patients with chronic diseases in rural area

Abstract

Objective To analyze the satisfaction and the demands for the community healthcare of elderly patients with chronic diseases in the rural area. Methods A total of 428 elderly patients were investigated, and 64 urban elderly patients and 122 elderly patients from towns were included as the control group. Results The overall elderly patients′ satisfaction in rural area was 40.4%, which was significantly lower than that of 62.5% in the urban area (Z=-3.278, P 0.05). There were significant differences in the advancement of medical equipment, medical environment, the healthcare team′s attitude and technology level, and the healthcare education level between the rural and urban area were statistical significant (Z=-4.743, -8.587, -4.945, -3.685, -3.624, -2.766, -2.399, respectively; P<0.05). Except for disease consult, there were significant differences in the above aspects between the rural and county area (Z=-4.377, -7.868, -3.120, -2.647, -3.077, -3.886, respectively; P<0.05). For the rural area, 102 patients (23.8%) acquired medical knowledge by newspapers and books and 11 patients (2.6%) acquired medical knowledge by internet. Those number of patients in the urban area were 40 cases (62.5%) and 10 cases (15.6%). There were significant differences between the rural and urban area (χ2=40.545, 20.137, respectively; P<0.05). Those number of patients in the county area were 67 cases (54.9%) and 18 cases (14.8%). There were significant differences between the rural and county area(χ2=43.101, 28.217, respectively; P<0.05). Conclusions The satisfaction for the community healthcare of elderly patients in rural area is low, so it should be further improved. Key words: Elderly patients; Chronic diseases; Community; Satisfaction; Rural area