Patient satisfaction with care is associated with personal choice of physician

Objective: To evaluate whether choosing one's own primary care doctor is associated with patient satisfaction with primary health care. To evaluate factors related to population's satisfaction with primary health care. Population: A random sample of Estonian adult population (N = 997). Study design: Cross-sectional study using a pre-categorized questionnaire which was compiled by the research group of the University of Tartu and the research provider EMOR. Results: Altogether 68% of the respondents had been listed in their personal physician. Their overall satisfaction with the physician as well as satisfaction with several aspects of primary health care were significantly higher compared with those of unregistered respondents. Although some other factors (practice size, patient age, health status) also influenced patient satisfaction presence of a personal physician appeared the most important predictor of high satisfaction with physician's punctuality and understanding, effectiveness of prescribed therapy, clarity of explanations given by the physician as well as with overall satisfaction with the physician. Conclusion: Personal doctor system is associated with patient satisfaction with different aspects of care. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.