Determinants of patients' experiences and satisfaction with fertility care.
OBJECTIVE
To assess determinants of patients' experiences and satisfaction with fertility care.


METHODS
Cross-sectional questionnaire study.


METHODS
Sixteen fertility clinics in The Netherlands.


METHODS
A total of 1,499 infertile women in The Netherlands who visited a participating clinic in April-June 2005 for diagnostics or treatment.


METHODS
Patients experiences and satisfaction with several aspects of fertility care, and the patient and clinic characteristics that are determinants of those two concepts.


RESULTS
In general, patients' satisfaction with care was high (94%). Waiting times, information provision and emotional support were experienced the least positive aspects of care. Determinants of all care aspects were found to be significant at four different domains: three at patient level, i.e., demographic characteristics, type of received treatment and both general and mental health status, and one at clinic level, i.e., organization of care.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides an increased understanding of the determinants of patients' experiences and satisfaction with fertility care. This enables professionals to tailor their care to specific subgroups of patients and adjust their organization of fertility care where needed. Moreover, the study underlines the need to investigate whether case-mix correction is necessary whenever interpreting patient-surveys on care experiences, because both the patient's and the clinic's characteristics can influence the way that health care delivery is experienced. Demographic background of this regional patient sample was rather homogeneous, which should be taken into account when interpreting results.
Mourad
Selma M
SM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Nelen
Willianne L D M
WLDM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Akkermans
Reinier P
RP
Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Vollebergh
J H A
JHA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bernhoven Hospital, Oss, the Netherlands.
Grol
Richard P T M
RPTM
Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Hermens
Rosella P M G
RPMG
Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Kremer
Jan A M
JAM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: j.kremer@obgyn.umcn.nl.
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires