[Patient's satisfaction in the light of the Polish empirical studies--an attempt to elucidate a secret of high satisfaction with care].
Patients' satisfaction is the subject of interest of many researchers, which is reflected in a number of studies devoted to this problem, published in Polish medical journals. This indicates high interest in the subject and is a prerequisite for the outcome analysis.


OBJECTIVE
Presentation of the findings of Polish empirical studies on patients' satisfaction, determination which elements of health care contribute to patients' satisfaction and which cause dissatisfaction and an attempt to elucidate the causes of high patients' satisfaction.


METHODS
The study used the method of a literature review. Polish Medical Bibliography of 1991-2004 was used as the subject basis for the analysis. Using the key words "patient's satisfaction" 119 reports were found. Of that number all empirical studies (50) were included in the analysis.


RESULTS
The studies on patients' satisfaction focus on the quality of hospital care (78%). Fewer studies refer to primary care (20%). A majority of patients reported high satisfaction with health care.


CONCLUSIONS
The studies on satisfaction do not have a reliable theoretical support. A qualitative approach that would help find out what is really important from the patient's point of view should be more widely employed.
Marcinowicz
Ludmiła
L
Zakład Medycyny Rodzinnej i Pielegniarstwa Srodowiskowego Akademii Medycznej w Białymstoku.
Grebowski
Ryszard
R
D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*