Patient experiences with outpatient care in Hungary: results of an online population survey

BACKGROUND: Health systems are undertaking efforts to make health care more patient centered and value based. To achieve this goal, the use of patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) is increasing, especially across OECD countries. However, in Hungary, data on patients' experiences are still lacking. Thus, our aim was twofold: first, to collect data on outpatient experience in Hungary on patient-doctor communication and patient involvement in decision making and compare it with that of other OECD countries; second, to assess associations of outpatient experience with patients' socioeconomic characteristics. METHODS: In early 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional, online, self-administered survey in a national representative sample of Hungary's population (n = 1000). The sample was weighted considering gender, age, highest education level attained, type of settlement, and region of residence. The survey questions were based on a set of recommended questions by the OECD. RESULTS: Our findings show that the proportion of reported positive experiences is as follows: doctors providing easy-to-understand explanations (93.1%) followed by time spent on the consultation (87.5%), opportunities to raise questions (85.8%), and doctors involving patients in decision making about care and treatment (80.1%). The share of positive experiences falls behind OECD's average regarding patient-doctor communication and patient involvement in decision making, which signals room for improvement in these areas. CONCLUSIONS: Women, younger people, people with a paid job, and patients with consultations with allied health professionals reported significant lesser positive care experiences and, hence, more targeted policies can be initiated based on our findings.