[Patients' assessment of their general practitioners--the significance of patient characteristics. General results from the DanPEP--part I].
BACKGROUND
Patients' experiences constitute a significant part of the quality assessment of general practice care. The aim of the present study was to examine the patients' assessment of their general practitioners (GPs) and to determine to which extent the assessments were associated with patient characteristics.


METHODS
A survey among patients registered with the participating GPs assessing 23 aspects of the GP-patient relationship, medical care, information and support, organisation of care and accessibility. Analyses of associations between the assessments and patient characteristics.


RESULTS
The most positively assessed aspect was confidentiality in the GPs' record keeping followed by aspects of empathy and precision, while the poorest evaluations were given to GP and practice availability by phone and amount of waiting time in the waiting room. Elderly patients, frequent attenders, patients who had a long history with the GP and patients with a good self-rated health were those who were most satisfied in general. The significance of patient gender and educational level was more complex. Patients suffering from chronic heart, endocrine or cancer diseases were more satisfied than patients without a chronic condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results may be used for ongoing adjustment of care to the needs of groups of patients - while keeping in mind the individual patient's needs.
Heje
Hanne N
HN
Aarhus Universitet, Forskningsenheden for Almen Praksis i Arhus, DK-8000 Arhus C, Denmark. hh@alm.au.dk
Olesen
Frede
F
Vedsted
Peter
P
D000367:Age Factors; D003718:Denmark; D004522:Educational Status; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010361:Patients / Q000145:classification; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires