Health Policy Manag.  2021 Jun;31(2):207-216. 10.4332/KJHPA.2021.31.2.207.

Factors Affecting Patient Experience with Outpatient Care

• Kim KH

• KMID: 2525595
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2021.31.2.207

Abstract

Background
Good patient experience is positively associated with adherence to treatment recommendations, better clinical effectiveness, and health outcomes. This study aims to find out the key factors affecting positive patient experience to improve the quality of care using nationally representative survey data.
Methods
The data was collected from the 6th National Health Nutrition Survey in 2015. Four patient experience items were investigated for patients with visiting outpatient care over the past year. Positive patient experience was defined as a case of responding always or usually yes. The t-test, chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression were performed to determine the key factors affecting the outpatient experience.
Results
More than 80% of the respondents reported their care experience as positive excluding doctor spending enough time during the consultation. Male, poor health status, and single/divorced, and the longer time interval between outpatient care visit and survey were found to be significantly correlated with negative care experiences in the multiple logistic regression. Patients who received outpatient care at the oriental medicine clinic had a positive experience compared to those received outpatient care at the general hospital. However, patient factors including age, income, job, and insurance type had no significant association with patient experience.
Conclusion
Health care providers should prioritize patients who report negative patient experiences and implement management decisions to improve the patient experience.

Keyword

Patient experience; Affecting factors; National Health Nutrition Survey