Elderly patients' satisfaction with care under HMO versus private systems

In one community, 100 elderly persons (25 HMO and 75 private patients) completed a 20-item scale that measured satisfaction with medical care. Data on demographics, health care utilization, and self-assessed health status also were collected to determine whether these variables would relate to HMO membership. Satisfaction scores were compared between HMO and private care groups by multivariate analysis of variance. Satisfaction with the doctor-patient relationship and convenience of care was higher in the private care group, whereas satisfaction with cost was higher in the HMO group. Interestingly, the HMO group evaluated private care and HMO care similarly. The private group rated HMO care less favorably. Additional comments reveal specific areas of satisfaction/dissatisfaction.