Patient satisfaction with primary healthcare services: are there any links with patients' symptoms of anxiety and depression?

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to determine the association of anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as the main socio-demographic factors, with patients' satisfaction with primary healthcare services.

METHODS: The respondents were asked to fill out an anonymous questionnaire that included information on the patients' gender, age, place of residence, education, ethnicity, the type of clinic they visited and the presence of chronic diseases. Patient satisfaction was evaluated by using a short version of the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. We also used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

RESULTS: Poor evaluations of primary healthcare services were more characteristic of males, older patients, those living in district centres and villages, individuals with lower (secondary or lower) education levels, respondents of Russian ethnicity (compared to Lithuanian), patients with chronic diseases and higher anxiety and depression symptom scores. In the final regression analysis, better satisfaction with primary healthcare services was observed in respondents who were less depressed, of Polish ethnicity and who were living in a city rather than a village.

CONCLUSIONS: Being more depressed or anxious, living in the district centre or countryside related to patients' worse satisfaction with primary healthcare services. The results of nationality of patients and their satisfaction are ambiguous. The is strong correlation between the symptoms of depression and anxiety.