RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Patient Satisfaction And Selected Physician Behaviors: Does The Type Of Practice Make A Difference?
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Practice
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 87
OP 92
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2.2.87
VO 2
IS 2
A1 Richard L. Holloway
A1 Christine C. Matson
A1 Daniel K. Zismer
YR 1989
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/2/2/87.abstract
AB This study was designed to show what specific physician characteristics lead to patient satisfaction and to compare satisfaction of patients using either prepaid or fee-for-service modes of payment within the same settings. We surveyed 1142 patients in five family practice clinics in rural and suburban areas of the North Central United States. Regression analysis of a seven-item satisfaction scale showed four significant factors that accounted for variance: sensitivity, is on time for appointments, follows up promptly, and provides personalized medical care. No meaningful differences were found between health-maintenance-organization and fee-for-service patients on these satisfactions. This study expands findings from previous research and raises more questions about reliable rating scales for complex physician/patient relations. Our methods can be used to investigate the effects of newer types of prepaid plans (including individual practice associations and preferred provider organizations) on patient satisfaction. The challenge for future investigations is to test and build reliable predictive models showing how physician characteristics, patient satisfaction, and quality of medical care affect each other in these more complex models of practice and reimbursement.