title: Extent and determinants of patients' unvoiced needs.
abstract: Patients with issues or health problems usually plan to discuss their concerns with their health care providers. If these concerns were not presented or voiced during the health care provider-patient encounter, the patients are considered to have unvoiced needs. This article examines the extent and possible determinants of patients' unvoiced needs in an outpatient setting. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 5 Ministry of Health Malaysia primary health facilities throughout the country. Of 1829 who participated, 5 did not respond to the question on planned issues. Of the 1824 respondents, 57.9% (95% confidence interval = 47.1-68.7) claimed to have issues/problems they planned to share, of whom 15.1% to 26.7% had unvoiced needs. Extent of unvoiced needs differed by employment status, perceived category of health care provider, and study center. Perceived category of health care provider, method of questionnaire administration, and study center were the only significant determinants of unvoiced needs. Unvoiced needs do exist in Malaysia and there is a need for health care providers to be aware and take steps to counter this.
authors: Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Rumah Sakit Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. low.ll@ihsr.gov.my
authors: Lee Lan
authors: LL
authors: Low
authors: Sararaks
authors: S
authors: Sondi
authors: Abu Bakar
authors: AB
authors: Azman
authors: Pik Pin
authors: PP
authors: Goh
authors: A Hamid
authors: AH
authors: Maimunah
authors: Mohd Yusof
authors: MY
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Muhammad Radzi Abu
authors: MR
authors: Hassan
authors: Ramanathan
authors: R
authors: Letchuman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult