Abstract
General evidence suggests a strong association between patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes, but data specific to the general Ghanaian population is lacking. To use nationally representative data to examine the effects of primary care practices on patient satisfaction and how satisfaction influences treatment outcomes. The study utilized WAVE 1 data from a nationally representative survey (n = 2,967) of patients who received outpatient medical care in Ghana. The data were collected by the World Health Organization between 2007 and 2010 and were analyzed using Kruskal Wallis test, binomial logistic regression, and correlations. Predictors for patients' experiences were waiting time, respectfulness, clear communication, privacy, decision-making, choice, and cleanliness. Overall, the patients reported positive experiences with all aspects of their primary care services. Thirty-three percent were very satisfied and 57% were satisfied with their last outpatient visit. Adjusted for sociodemographic and other variables, patient satisfaction with primary care was predominantly determined through privacy, decision-making, communication, and respectfulness. The model explained 54.6% (Nagelkerke R 2) of the variance in satisfaction and correctly classified 85.2% of cases. Patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes were significantly related, r(2959) = .54, p < .001. In a nationally representative sample, quality of patient experiences was associated with high satisfaction, which in turn was positively associated with improved treatment outcomes. None.
Highlights
For many years, primary care practice has provided patients initial access to the health care system and an outlet for all health care needs.[1]
The study results show the importance of patient satisfaction, which is driven by personal experiences and perception of medical care.[22,23]
The findings of this study are a clear indication that there is a connection between patient-provider interaction and patient satisfaction, which correlates strongly with treatment outcomes
Summary
Primary care practice has provided patients initial access to the health care system and an outlet for all health care needs.[1] With primary care practice, clinicians work collaboratively with individuals to promote wellbeing and provide medical care to those who need immediate health care. Patient rating of medical care experience at primary care practices is influenced by interactions with providers and resources at the time of obtaining health care. Improved patient satisfaction leads to better patient experiences[2] and correlates with better treatment outcomes.[3,4,5,6,7] For instance, in a study to determine if colorectal cancer patients’ satisfaction with service quality was associated with health outcomes (survival rate), Gupta and colleagues[8] found that positive perceptions of the quality of their medical service predicted survival after cancer treatment
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