title: Chronically ill Australians' satisfaction with accessibility and patient-centredness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association of characteristics of patients and general practices with patient assessment of quality of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional multi-practice study using the general practice assessment survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  General practices in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six general practices and 7505 chronic illness patients aged >or=18 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Access of care and patient-centredness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two factors were identified in factor analysis: 'Access of care' and 'Patient-centredness'. Multilevel regression analysis showed significant associations between patients' assessments and patient and practice characteristics. Patients from smaller practices (one to three general practitioners) reported better access to care compared with larger practices. Patients from urban areas were more satisfied with patient-centredness than those from rural areas. Self-reported health status and age had a positive and home ownership, employment and education, and patients from non-English-speaking countries a negative relationship with both scores. Females were more satisfied with patient-centredness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient assessments of quality of care and patient-centredness were strongly associated with practice and patient characteristics. This has important implications for interpreting assessments of the quality of primary care, and for policy and practice measures designed to improve this.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. upali.jay@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Upali W
authors.initials: UW
authors.lastname: Jayasinghe
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Proudfoot
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holton
authors.forename: Gawaine Powell
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bubner
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beilby
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors