title: [Patient confidence in health care].
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate patient confidence in organization of health care and health care policy. The study material was gathered using self-administrated anonymous questionnaire in November-December, 2001. The patients were recruited from therapeutic departments of Kaunas 2nd hospital and Alytus S. Kudirka hospital. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS program data package. Chi-square test was used to compare observed results with expected results. The hypothesis was statistically significant at the p<0.05. More patients in Alytus hospital (31%) than in Kaunas hospital (22%) predicated as being non-confident in health care policy. Statistical significant difference between patients of two hospitals was obtained comparing opinion about health care reform. Alytus S. Kudirka hospital patients were more optimistic about health care reform than patients in Kaunas hospital. Thirty percent of patients in Alytus hospital and 19% in Kaunas hospital were confident that reform has improved their treatment (p<0.05). More patients in Kaunas hospital (22%) than in Alytus hospital (9%) confirmed that health care reform aggravated their treatment. The majority of Alytus hospital patients (62%) and 40% of Kaunas hospital patients were satisfied with health care services. More than half respondents were not confident in health care system but they trusted physicians. Gender and education level had impact on patient confidence in health care. The most part of the respondents were satisfied with health care in hospital. More patients in Alytus hospital compared with Kaunas hospital patients confirmed that they did not trust health care policy, however were more satisfied with health care reform and services in hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Philosophy and Social Science, Kaunas University of Medicine, A. Mickeviciaus 9, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania. filosof@kmu.lt
authors.forename: Zita
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liubarskiene
authors.forename: Laima
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soliūniene
authors.forename: Vaidas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kilius
authors.forename: Eimantas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peicius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D004493:Education; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006291:Health Policy; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008097:Lithuania; D008297:Male; D009014:Morals; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology