Clinical Rheumatology and Related Research
Online ISSN : 2189-0595
Print ISSN : 0914-8760
ISSN-L : 0914-8760
original article
Determinants of Factors influencing Patient Satisfaction in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Akiko AokiAkiko SudaMitsuhiro TakenoYoshiaki IshigatsuboIzumi Maeda
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2010 Volume 22 Issue 1 Pages 42-50

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Abstract
Objective: To investigate the satisfaction with care among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to identify factors associated with patient satisfaction.
Methods: The self-report questionnaires were distributed to 500 RA patients who had participated in the general meeting of members of Riumachi Tomonokai (the association of patients with RA) on May 2009. The questionnaire consisted of six key areas: demographic data, characteristics of physician and healthcare provider, disease features, assessments of physicians’ attitude, assessments of patients’ knowledge about RA, patient-physician relationships including patient satisfaction. Participants responded on five-point Likert type scales and were classified as high-satisfied or low-satisfied according to the scales.
Results: The response rate was 76.4%. 90% was woman and 70% was aged 60 or over. The disease duration of 58% patients was more than twenty years. Patients were, in general, satisfied with the care they received at out-patient clinics. As a result of the multiple regression analysis, five items were extracted as factors that influenced the patient satisfaction. “The physician is responding enough to my worry”, “The physician speaks face to face to me”, “The physician asks me if I have anything to worry before the examination ends”, “The patient understands physician’s explanation enough”, and “the examination time is just good length”
Conclusion: When the physician considers the patient’s anxiety, takes communications appropriately, and offers clinical information appropriately, he can satisfy the patient. It was thought that satisfying the patient improved trust in the physician, and the effect of treatment was taken consequently. Physicians should train the communication skills to improve patient satisfaction.
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© 2010 The Japanese Society for Clinical Rheumatology and Related Research
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