Faculty Collaboration Database

Patient satisfaction in women's clinics versus traditional primary care clinics in the Veterans Administration. J Gen Intern Med 2003 Mar;18(3):175-81

Date

03/22/2003

Pubmed ID

12648248

Pubmed Central ID

PMC1494829

DOI

10.1046/j.1525-1497.2003.20512.x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0037355982 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   58 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare patient satisfaction in women's clinics (WCs) versus traditional primary care clinics (TCs).

DESIGN: Anonymous, cross-sectional mailed survey.

SETTING: Eight Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers in 3 states.

PATIENTS: A random sample of women stratified by site and enrollment in WC versus TC (total response rate = 61%).

MEASURES: Overall satisfaction and gender-specific satisfaction as measured by the Primary Care Satisfaction Survey for Women (PCSSW).

ANALYSIS: We dichotomized the satisfaction scores (excellent versus all other), and compared excellent satisfaction in WCs versus TCs using logistic regression, controlling for demographics, health status, health care use, and location.

RESULTS: Women enrolled in WCs were more likely than those in TCs to report excellent overall satisfaction (odds ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 2.02; P = .05). Multivariate models demonstrated that receipt of care in WCs was a significant positive predictor for all 5 satisfaction domains (i.e., getting care, privacy and comfort, communication, complete care, and follow-up care) with the gender-specific satisfaction instrument (PCSSW).

CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to consistently show higher satisfaction in WCs versus TCs despite age and race differences and comparable health status. Since these WCs show better quality in terms of satisfaction, other quality indicators should be evaluated. If WCs reduce fragmentation and improve health care delivery, the model will be applicable in VA and non-VA outpatient settings.

Author List

Bean-Mayberry BA, Chang CC, McNeil MA, Whittle J, Hayes PM, Scholle SH

Author

Jeffrey Whittle MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Ambulatory Care Facilities
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Middle Aged
Patient Satisfaction
United States
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Women's Health Services