[Factors associated with patient satisfaction with hospital care].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the influence of sociodemographic, care and communication factors on patient satisfaction.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study by means of a telephonic survey of patients discharged during September, 2006. Instrument for measuring satisfaction: SERQVHOS questionnaire.


METHODS
we used odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI); adjustment for confusion factors was performed using multiple logistic regression.


RESULTS
Response rate was 80.9%. On evaluating the influence of sociodemographic characteristics, we observed that patients whose nationality did not correspond to the European Union were more satisfied than Spanish patients (OR=3.01; 95% CI: 1.40-3.51); subjects who had only completed primary studies were more satisfied than those with university studies (OR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.88-4.35). With respect to care factors, patients readmitted because of the same major diagnostic category had lower satisfaction (OR=0.67, bordering statistical significance). Finally, with regard to communication factors, the three aspects most associated with patient satisfaction were: correct health-care personnel identification (OR: 6.22 95% CI: 3.52-10.97), receiving enough information about his/her state of health (OR: 3.83 95% CI: 1.94-7.57), and being informed about the place and schedule for medical information (OR: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.60-4.22).


CONCLUSIONS
Communication favourably affects the final perception of care, which justifies the continuity of its improvement in the health centres of our region.
Dierssen-Sotos
T
T
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain. trinidad.dierssen@unican.es
Rodríguez-Cundín
P
P
Robles-García
M
M
Brugos-Llamazares
V
V
Gómez-Acebo
I
I
Llorca
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D055815:Young Adult