Patterns of Outpatient Service Satisfaction among Low-Income Adults in Rural China: A Latent Class Analysis

(1) Background: Low-income rural residents in China are disadvantaged due to their financial vulnerability and insufficient access to resources, and this situation demands more research effort. This study examined the pattern of outpatient service satisfaction and its determinants among low-income a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Peiyi Lu, Chunyu Yang, Jun Yao, Mingxia Xian, Mack Shelley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Healthcare
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/8/1380
Description
Summary:(1) Background: Low-income rural residents in China are disadvantaged due to their financial vulnerability and insufficient access to resources, and this situation demands more research effort. This study examined the pattern of outpatient service satisfaction and its determinants among low-income adults in rural China. (2) Methods: Rural low-income respondents who used outpatient services in their local healthcare facilities in Jiangsu, China evaluated the access, cost, environment, doctor–patient interaction, and other topics during their outpatient visit (<i>N</i> = 662). Latent class analysis was used to identify the groups characterized by various dimensions of outpatient satisfaction. Multinomial logistic regression explored the determinants of class membership. (3) Results: Three latent classes were identified: 28.70% had low satisfaction, unsatisfied with every dimension; 20.69% reported medium satisfaction that valued doctor–patient relationships; and 50.60% had high satisfaction but thought that costs were high. Both low and medium satisfaction were associated with a higher proportion of self-paid fees. (4) Conclusions: Healthcare costs were an important determinant of outpatient service satisfaction. Medical social workers are suggested to be included in the medical team to help patients identify financial assistance. Special aid programs may be developed to help relieve rural low-income patients’ medical cost-related burden.
ISSN:2227-9032