MDs' offices receive 85% approval rating

Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 155: 311

Almost 85% of more than 8800 respondents rated health care services in Canada as good or excellent in the first survey of consumer attitudes concerning the quality of goods and services they purchase. It was conducted for the National Quality Institute and the Consumers' Association of Canada. Of service providers ranked good or excellent, dentists and opticians/optometrists led the health care field with an approval rating of about 92%; doctors' offices ranked third, with an approval rating of 85%.

Doctors' offices also placed third (79%) behind opticians/optometrists and dentists (about 86% each) for providing information that enabled patients to participate in making treatment decisions. Hospitals didn't fare very well in the survey. They received the lowest overall excellent ratings for promptness of service (17%), information that enables patients to participate in treatment decisions (13%) and the general attitude and manner of professionals (19%).

| CMAJ August 1, 1996 (vol 155, no 3) |