What do patients attending HIV and GUM outpatient clinics want from service providers? Results from a large-scale consultation exercise in west London.
Our objectives were to understand patient demographic profiles, experiences of care and opinions about services. A questionnaire survey of 202 HIV patients and 389 genitourinary medicine (GUM) outpatients attending clinics during one week in 1999 was undertaken at a clinical directorate of HIV/GUM in west London. HIV and GUM patients differed by age (over 30: 84% vs 39%), sex (male: 88% vs 51%), and attendance (attended 6+ times: 55% vs 14%). Most indicated that they were satisfied with the general standard of care (97% HIV patients vs 95% GUM patients). Several clinic features were rated essential. When indicating reasons they might leave in the future, HIV patients were more likely to select leading edge care factors, such as lack of up-to-date treatment (54%). More GUM patients selected factors relating to convenience, such as waiting times (58%). In conclusion, most HIV and GUM patients were satisfied with their care, but differing experiences and opinions need to be addressed when planning services.
Hope
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Clinical Directorate of HIV/GUM, Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust, London SW10 9NH, UK.
Williams
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Barton
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Asboe
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D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors