Physician conduct and other factors that affect consumer satisfaction with medical care

Major dimensions of consumer perceptions regarding physicians and medical care services were identified using factor analysis of survey data, as follows: accessibility, availability of family doctors, availability of hospitals/specialists, completeness of facilities, continuity of care, and physician conduct (art and technical aspects of quality). Scores for these dimensions and multivariate statistical methods were used to predict general satisfaction ratings for a cross section of adults and for groups differing in age, education, health status, and sex. Physician conduct was clearly the most important factor in relation to general satisfaction with care for the total sample and for all groups studied. Other factors also were important, suggesting that more than one interpretation of general satisfaction scores should be considered when consumer satisfaction surveys are used to support the planning of educational programs in medicine and the delivery of services.