Patient satisfaction with and recommendation of a primary care provider: associations of perceived quality and patient education

Abstract

Doctor's technical skill is the most critical attribute of primary care quality for both overall satisfaction and recommendation, followed by doctor's interpersonal skill. Staff care and access are associated with improved overall satisfaction but not related to increasing the likelihood of recommending a clinic to relatives and friends. Doctor's technical and interpersonal skills rather than staff care and access can be the essence of quality competition in the primary care market. Providing patient education during the visit on how to prevent or control diseases may also relate to improved patient satisfaction and recommendation.