Satisfaction of Patients and Physicians with Outpatient Consultations at a University Hospital

Abstract

Objective This study was performed to investigate the factors influencing the correlation between physician satisfaction and patient satisfaction in an outpatient setting. Methods New patients attending the General Medicine Outpatient Clinic of Chiba University Hospital and their physicians were enrolled. After the initial consultation, both the patients and the physicians completed an anonymous questionnaire. Results There were 875 patients (381 men and 494 women; mean age: 54 years) and 10 physicians (4 men and 6 women; mean experience: 6 years). The satisfaction of the patients and the physicians was not correlated (r=0.14, p<0.001). A logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors associated with greater physician satisfaction were "guidance/advice from senior colleagues" [odds ratio (OR)=2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.76-2.34] and "confidence in the diagnosis" (OR=1.52; 95%CI=1.37-1.69), while "a difficult patient" (OR=0.73; 95%CI=0.68-0.78) was associated with reduced satisfaction. The factors associated with greater patient satisfaction were "the doctor listened carefully" (OR=1.98; 95%CI=1.62-2.42) and "my diagnosis is correct" (OR=1.57; 95%CI=1.41-1.74). One item in the questionnaire for the physicians, "I diagnosed psychogenic illness" (OR=0.87; 95%CI=0.81-0.94), was associated with lower patient satisfaction. Conclusion The satisfaction of the patients and the physicians was not correlated. If only the factors promoting the satisfaction of one party are targeted, the satisfaction of the other party will not increase. The satisfaction of the physicians may be increased by receiving advice from mentors and an improved diagnostic ability, while the patients wants a physician who listens carefully and makes the correct diagnosis.

Patient Satisfaction and its Relation to Perceived Visit Duration With a Hand Surgeon

“…The data may have limited generalizability to other regions, populations, and practice settings in that all patients were outpatients visiting fellowship-trained hand surgeons at a single urban academic hospital in the Northeastern United States. Another limitation is that differences in presenting condition and visit outcome (ie, diagnosis) may have affected the way in which patients reported their perceptions of the surgeon and visit 35 ; however, this does provide a representative sample of the conditions traditionally presenting to an outpatient hand surgery office. In addition, most patients (75 of 112) were seen by 1 surgeon, meaning that we cannot thoroughly examine physician characteristics associated with our primary and secondary outcome measures.…”

Patient satisfaction and associated factors among psychiatry outpatients of St Paulo’s Hospital, Ethiopia

“…Patient satisfaction can be described as the client's response to several aspects of the services they experience and their evaluation of the healthcare facilities as well as the healthcare providers from their own subjective point of view to reduce the patient's problems. [1][2][3] Patient satisfaction with mental healthcare services is recognised as an important integral part of measuring the outcomes and performance of clinical service delivery. 4 It also provides feedback for the evaluation and determination of the quality of service.…”

Evaluation of the quality of service delivery in private sector, primary care clinics in Kenya: A descriptive patient survey

“…14 Consultations should enable patients to understand their health problems, adhere to their management plan and take control of their illness. 15,16,17 Communication skills should support a broad and wholistic bio-psycho-social or person-centred approach to the consultation to deliver high-quality PC. 18 Communication and consultation skills are also important for the trust and confidence that patients have in their PC provider.…”