An evaluation of the prior appointment program in primary care by a user opinion survey
Alastrué Loscos, J.I.; Giner Valero, M.; Bonet Pla, J.A.; Merelles Tormo, A.; Núñez, A.J.; Superviola Collados, V.J.
Atencion Primaria 9(6): 299-300 302-4
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0212-6567 PMID: 1600061 Document Number: 404227
To assess user-satisfaction on the introduction of an Appointments Scheme. Crossover and observational, with a random sample. SITE. 47?97 Health Centres and 72 Clinics in the Community of Valencia. A random sample of 400 users. A month after the introduction of the scheme, a survey was administered by staff of the centres themselves to a sample of users coming out from consulting rooms. The percentage of users who waited less than 15 minutes to see their doctor increased from 18% to 75.5% after the introduction of the Scheme. The average number of people in the waiting-rooms decreased from 61 to 14. 72.5% of users considered that the quality of health care received had improved. The users' evaluation of the programme is satisfactory. There was moreover a significant difference in favour of Health Centres as to fewer crowds in waiting-rooms, greater access to telephones, the evaluation of the quality of care and the average time of a consultation.