Patient experiences with outpatient care in Hungary: results of an online population survey

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Abstract

Background Health systems are undertaking eforts to make health care more patient centered and value based. To achieve this goal, the use of patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) is increasing, especially across OECD countries. However, in Hungary, data on patients’ experiences are still lacking. Thus, our aim was twofold: frst, to collect data on outpatient experience in Hungary on patient–doctor communication and patient involvement in decision making and compare it with that of other OECD countries; second, to assess associations of outpatient experience with patients’ socioeconomic characteristics. Methods In early 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional, online, self-administered survey in a national representative sample of Hungary’s population (n=1000). The sample was weighted considering gender, age, highest education level attained, type of settlement, and region of residence. The survey questions were based on a set of recommended questions by the OECD. Results Our fndings show that the proportion of reported positive experiences is as follows: doctors providing easy-tounderstand explanations (93.1%) followed by time spent on the consultation (87.5%), opportunities to raise questions (85.8%), and doctors involving patients in decision making about care and treatment (80.1%). The share of positive experiences falls behind OECD’s average regarding patient–doctor communication and patient involvement in decision making, which signals room for improvement in these areas. Conclusions Women, younger people, people with a paid job, and patients with consultations with allied health professionals reported signifcant lesser positive care experiences and, hence, more targeted policies can be initiated based on our fndings.