Bridging the Gap: A Comparative Analysis of Healthcare Quality Perceptions Between the Older People and Healthcare Providers

Abstract

In our study aimed at improving the healthcare system for the aging population, we compared healthcare quality evaluations between 96 older individuals and 30 healthcare providers in Split-Dalmatia County (Croatia). Using nonparametric analyses such as the Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests on Likert scale questionnaire scores, we found most participants highlighted challenges such as healthcare affordability, long wait times, reliance on private care, poor public transportation, and insufficient rural healthcare services. Healthcare providers rated these quality indicators even more negatively. Both groups rated healthcare for dementia patients notably lower, while emergency response, treatment quality, and hospitalization ease were generally rated positively. The heightened awareness among healthcare providers raises the question: why is there a significant delay between recognizing these problems and implementing effective solutions to address them?