title: Patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries and their satisfaction with their general practitioner.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine how satisfied patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) are with their general practitioners (GP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included patients with TSCI, injured in the period 1982-2001 and living in western Norway. We performed a structured telephonic interview of the patients in the period 2004-2007. A total of 105 (59.3%) patients participated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with TSCI were in general satisfied with their GP. Older patients were most satisfied, and patients with incomplete thoracic SCI were least satisfied. Patients with anxiety and/or depression reported low satisfaction with their GP on several parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with incomplete SCI were least satisfied probably because their physicians do not acknowledge their complicated medical complaints and do not meet the patient's expectations. Patients with anxiety and/or depression were more likely to report low satisfaction with their GP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. ellen.merete.hagen@helse-bergen.no
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Grimstad
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bovim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gronning
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015995:Prevalence; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult