Introduction: Patients' experiences constitute a significant part of the quality assessment of general practice care. The aim of the present study was to examine the patients' assessment of their general practitioners (GPs) and to determine to which extent the assessments were associated with patient characteristics.
Material and methods: A survey among patients registered with the participating GPs assessing 23 aspects of the GP-patient relationship, medical care, information and support, organisation of care and accessibility. Analyses of associations between the assessments and patient characteristics.
Results: The most positively assessed aspect was confidentiality in the GPs' record keeping followed by aspects of empathy and precision, while the poorest evaluations were given to GP and practice availability by phone and amount of waiting time in the waiting room. Elderly patients, frequent attenders, patients who had a long history with the GP and patients with a good self-rated health were those who were most satisfied in general. The significance of patient gender and educational level was more complex. Patients suffering from chronic heart, endocrine or cancer diseases were more satisfied than patients without a chronic condition.
Conclusion: Our results may be used for ongoing adjustment of care to the needs of groups of patients - while keeping in mind the individual patient's needs.