Characterization of patients and its relationship with medical complaints.
BACKGROUND
Patient characteristics may be an internal factor influencing patient complaints, but in China patient characterization is restricted to patient satisfaction surveys, and few studies have considered the relationship between patient characteristics and patient complaints. The aim of this research was to determine the reasons for complaints.


METHODS
In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of hospitalized patients and explored their relationship with medical complaints.


RESULTS
The significant factors were age (P = 0.045), hospital cost (P = 0.003), household nature (P < 0.001), and education (P < 0.001). The complaint rate decreased when the patients' age increased (regression coefficient, -0.606; OR, 0.545, and 95%CI, 0.301 - 0.987). The complaint rate increased with an increase in hospital cost (regression coefficient, 0.818; OR, 2.266; and 95%CI, 1.320 - 3.889). Patients from non-agricultural households had a higher complaint rate (regression coefficient, 1.051; OR, 2.861; and 95%CI, 1.611 - 5.082). Patients with higher education levels had lower complaint rates (regression coefficient, -0.944; OR, 0.389; and 95%CI, 0.234 - 0.647).


CONCLUSIONS
The survey confirms that older patients and patients with higher education levels had lower complaint rates, while non-agricultural population and patients with higher hospital expenses had higher complaint rates.
School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
Xin
X
Ni
Jun
J
Tai
Xiao-Lan
XL
Zhao
Qiong-Shu
QS
Zhao
Yuan-Sheng
YS
Rao
Jie
J
He
Jian-Li
JL
Xu
Fu-Yong
FY
Guo
Li-Hua
LH
Fan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult