Availability and quality of specialized ophthalmologic medical care: assessment by patients living in rural areas
Abstract
The problem of restricted availability and quality of ophthalmologic medical care remains one of the main ones in the national healthcare. The article gives a comparative analysis of the opinions of rural residents of Leningrad region are in need of surgical treatment for ophthalmologic diseases, availability and quality of specialized medical care. A questionnaire was developed based on the methodology proposed by the Federal compulsory medical insurance Fund, through formal interviews of respondents of patients who received specialized ophthalmologic medical care in Leningrad region before opening of eye care hospitals for surgical treatment of cataract and glaucoma (148 patients) and afterwards (320 patients). The results show that almost all patients who received treatment after the modernization of ophthalmologic offices are satisfied with the quality of medical care (completely satisfied – 91,3 %, quite satisfied – 7,6 %), which is significantly higher than the figures obtained in the survey of the patients before creation of specialized departments (t=3,6, p<0.05). Availability of medical care before reequipment of ophthalmologic departments in hospitals satisfied 62.8 % of respondents, and after the organization of activities of eye care hospitals – 75, 3 % (t=2,8, p<0.05). However, despite the new form of organization of medical aid, 27.5 % of the respondents are still not satisfied with its transport accessibility. Thus, patients receiving operative treatment of cataract are generally satisfied with the availability and quality of their medical services. Higher ratings of availability and quality of specialized eye medical care were received after opening of eye care hospitals for surgical treatment of cataract and glaucoma in Leningrad region.
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