Assesment of factors determining the choice of family doctor

The aim of the study is to assess factors that determine the choice and change of family doctor depending on the type of institution. Objectives: 1. To identify and assess factors that determine the choice of a primary healthcare service provider depending on the type of institution. 2. To assess and compare motives that influence the change of a family doctor depending on the type of institution. 3. To assess and compare patientes behaviour and satisfaction depending on the type of institution. Methods of the research. The research was conducted in between January and March, 2013. An anonymous survey was performed on patients who visit public institutions of Prienai district primary health care and Birštonas primary health care and also private primary health care institutions (n=247). The response in public primary health care institutions was 81.5%. The statistical analysis of the research results was performed using SPSS 17.0 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). The relationships between the features were assessed using x2 criterion. Results. The analysis of patient research results showed that 48% of patients of private primary healthcare and 46% of public healthcare institutions are satisfied with the services provided by family doctors. During the research it was found that statistically the assessment of family doctor service quality does not have connection with education, social status or payment for services, 40% of respondents do not choose family doctor because of unsatisfactory quality of services in private healthcare institutions, and 75% of respondents do not choose family doctor because of inappropriate working hours in public healthcare institutions. In private primary healthcare institutions patients usually change doctors because they move house (61% ), and in public primary healthcare institutions patients usually change their doctor due to poor quality of services (42%). Patients of private healthcare institutions feel the lack of information about the services provided by a family doctor (47%), whereas patients of public primary healthcare institutions usually do not need information about the services provided by a family doctor (34%). When choosing a family doctor the most important source of information appears to be family recommendations (57%). Conclusions. Respondents are aware of and make use of the possibility to choose the provider of primarily healthcare services, linking them to factors that reflect their expectations. Patients think the main motivating factor is that they can get all the services at a single primary healthcare institution: attention of family doctor and other personnel, absence of queues and possibility of receiving necessary information about their health. In order to keep a long-term loyal relationship with patients, it is necessary not only to improve the quality of services, but also to encourage patients to express their opinions. In return, this would enable the choice of means required for achieving competitive advantages at any institution