Satisfaction with care received from family physicians: a comparison of Medicaid enrollees and other patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction is an important component used to assess quality of health care. Limited access to and choice of physicians, perception of receiving second-class care by recipients, and possible negative caregiver attitudes could cause Medicaid enrollees to be less satisfied with their physicians than other patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 603 patients visiting four family practice residency clinics during a 1-week period that yielded a 72% response or 436 usable surveys. The 39-item survey included basic demographics (age, gender, site, and first-time visit status), five of Ware's "dimensions" of patient satisfaction, a composite score for life satisfaction, a measure of patient confidence in the local medical care community, and questions about how patients felt they were treated, based on insurance type. It was hypothesized that Medicaid enrollees would not be as satisfied with their care as other patients. RESULTS: The study hypothesis was rejected after using two-sample t tests and regression analyses. Lower levels of patient satisfaction were not found in Medicaid enrollees, even after adjusting for the effects of differing demographic characteristics, possible different life satisfaction levels, and possible different levels of confidence in the local medical care community. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that enrollment in Medicaid did not result in lower levels of patient satisfaction. Future research about these issues in settings other than family practice residency clinics is needed.