The association between patient shortage and patient satisfaction with general practitioners

Objective. The aim of the study was to explore whether or not the influx of patients to a GP's practice is associated with satisfaction with the GP. Design. Persons in the Norwegian Living Condition Survey answered a questionnaire on satisfaction with their GP. The data on satisfaction were merged with registered information on the GPs and the GPs' patient lists from the National Insurance Administration, with registered information on the sample's sociodemographic background, and on their resident municipality from Statistics Norway. Setting. A representative sample of 2326 persons answered the questionnaire. This constituted persons in the survey who had visited their GP during the last six months. Main outcome measure. Satisfaction with the GP's interpersonal skills, the GP's medical skills, the GP's use of time, general accessibility to the GP, and the GP's role as a gatekeeper. Results. Persons listed with a GP who experience patient shortage were less satisfied than others along four dimensions of satisfaction: the GP's interpersonal skills, the GP's medical skills, the GP's referral practices, and the consultation lengths the GP offered. The GP's age and gender, characteristics of the patient, and characteristics of the organization of primary care had minor influence. Conclusion. Whether or not a GP experiences patient shortage is associated with patient satisfaction. Whether or not the lower patient satisfaction is a result of patient shortage or vice versa is not known.