title: Analysis of factors associated with patient satisfaction in ophthalmology: the influence of demographic data, visit characteristics and perceptions of received care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors associated with satisfaction among patients receiving ophthalmic services and to indicate the intensity of this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data used was obtained through a self-administered, post-visit questionnaire from randomly selected 507 patients treated in seven eye clinics in Germany. The instrument assessed satisfaction with several aspects of care and patient baseline and visit characteristics. Bivariate and multivariate techniques were used to reveal relations between indicators and overall satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factor analysis yielded two factors, 'medical aspects of care' and 'performance of service', explaining 55% of total variance. Cronbach's α coefficient for both scales indicates acceptable internal consistency. Bivariate analysis showed strong relations between overall satisfaction and perceived care with weaker findings pertaining to visit characteristics. Not any of the demographic variables was associated with overall satisfaction. Perceived length of stay, intention to return to the clinic, and occurrence of complications were influential attributes on satisfaction ratings. The multivariate analysis identified seven factors associated with overall satisfaction including the treatment outcome (OR: 4.57), kindness of the nurses (OR: 5.27) and medical practitioners (OR: 2.23), room amenities (OR: 2.72), organization of procedures and operations (OR: 2.71), information about anaesthesia (OR: 1.95), and cleanliness (OR: 1.93).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors associated with patient satisfaction in ophthalmology concern medical aspects like the organization of procedures and operations but also aspects that are not directly related to technical care, such as kindness of the nurses and cleanliness. Results show that patients' subjective experiences of received care and services relate more strongly and consistently to overall satisfaction than patient demographic data or visit characteristics. Revealed factors predicting patient satisfaction are alterable by health care managers. Therefore, focusing on these attributes represents an effective manner to enhance patient satisfaction in ophthalmology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Dresden Medical School, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany. tonio.schoenfelder@gmx.de
authors.forename: Tonio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schoenfelder
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klewer
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kugler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult