The perception of outpatient care quality by healthcare users in Ukraine

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Ukraine has been improving the quality of health care by reforming the health care system. Evidence on healthcare users’ perceptions of quality is important for future system changes. This paper aims to analyze the aspects of quality that outpatient care users find most important. Methods Data from a longitudinal household survey ‘Health Index. Ukraine’ in 2016–2019 were used. The survey had a sample size of over 10,000 participants per wave. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as binary regression analysis. Results Our results showed the importance of quality attributes as ‘effectiveness of treatment’ and ‘qualification of medical personnel’ as well as changes in the perception of quality attributes connected with payment policies and general management of the facility (like working hours, setting and hygiene ensuring by medical personnel). Conclusions Our study provides new insights into the importance of healthcare quality attributes for outpatient healthcare users in Ukraine, showing the need to develop in future a national policy on quality and a national quality strategy for health care that incorporates quality aspects important to patients to make the healthcare system more responsive to the needs and expectations of healthcare users.