Satisfaction with Access to Health Services: The Perspective of Estonian Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Table 2
Comparison of use of health services and amount of contacts due to RA, expenses, waiting times, and options to make an appointment time to see the rheumatologist in patients with rheumatoid arthritis according to their satisfaction with access to health services.
Patients satisfied or rather satisfied with access to health services ()
Patients not satisfied with access to health services ()
Percentage of respondents who, during the last 12 months due to RA, have
āVisited the FD (%)
73.5
76.7
āVisited the rheumatologist (%)
74.5
73.5
āReceived medical rehabilitation services (%)
23.7
26.9
āBeen admitted in the hospital (%)
21.9
19.2
Average number of visits per year per person (mean Ā± SE)
āFamily doctor
4.6 Ā± 0.2
4.7 Ā± 0.2
āRheumatologist
3.7 Ā± 0.1
3.4 Ā± 0.1
Average number of days spent in hospital per year per person (mean Ā± SE)**
11.1 Ā± 0.9
7.9 Ā± 0.6
Average time spent seeing the doctor (in minutes, mean Ā± SE)
āFamily doctor*
101.4 Ā± 2.8
109.6 Ā± 3.0
āRheumatologist*
193.5 Ā± 6.4
224.0 Ā± 10.6
Self-reported average expenses for care per person (EUR, mean Ā± SE )
āTotal expenses (per year)**
200.7 Ā± 13.3
267.4 Ā± 11.9
āVisit fee (per year)*
13.7 Ā± 1.1
17.1 Ā± 1.2
āInpatient fees (per year)
14.1 Ā± 1.3
12.9 Ā± 1.3
āCosts for rehabilitation (per year)*
69.6 Ā± 8.7
116.8 Ā± 17.7
āTransportation costs to see the family doctor (per visit)
2.4 Ā± 0.1
2.6 Ā± 0.2
āTransportation costs to see the rheumatologist (per visit)*
5.9 Ā± 0.3
7.3 Ā± 0.4
Waiting time to see the family doctor, %***
āUp to one week
96.2
88.3
āMore than one week
3.8
11.7
Waiting time to see the rheumatologist, %***
āUp to four weeks
76.2
56.5
āMore than four weeks
23.8
43.5
Last visit to the rheumatologist was (%)**
āFirst available time appointed by the healthcare provider
41.8
51.5
āAppointment time chosen by patient
58.2
48.5
*
; **; ***, statistically significant differences between groups that are satisfied and not satisfied with access to health services () using a chi-square test.
