Patient satisfaction & use of health care: a cross-sectional study of asylum seekers in the Freiburg initial reception centre
Open Access
- 3 August 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in BMC Health Services Research
- Vol. 20 (1), 1-8
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05579-7
Abstract
In response to a high number of incoming asylum seekers and refugees (AS&R) in Germany, initial reception centres were established to provide immediate shelter, food and health support. This study evaluates the satisfaction with and use of the health care available at the Freiburg initial reception centre (FIRC) where an integrated health care facility (ICF) was set up in 2015. We assessed use and satisfaction with health services available to resident AS&R within and outside the FIRC in a cross-sectional design. Data were collected in 2017 using a questionnaire with both open and closed ended items. The majority of 102 included participants were young (mean age 24.2; 95%CI 22.9–25.5, range 18–43) males (93%), from Sub-Saharan Africa (92%). High use frequencies were reported from returning patients of the ICF; with 56% fortnightly use and 19% daily use reported. The summary of satisfaction scores indicated that 84% (CI95 76–89%) of respondents were satisfied with the ICF. Multivariate analysis showed female gender and non-English speaking as risk factors for low satisfaction. Outside the FIRC, the satisfaction scores indicated that 60% of participants (95%CI 50–69%) were satisfied with the health care received. Our study shows that AS&R residing in the FIRC are generally satisfied with the services at the ICF, though strategies to enhance care for females and non-English speakers should be implemented. Satisfaction with health care outside of the FIRC was not as high, indicating the need to improve quality of care and linkage to regular health care services.Keywords
This publication has 12 references indexed in Scilit:
- Refugees in Germany—untenable restrictions to health careThe Lancet, 2016
- Die gesundheitliche Versorgungssituation von AsylsuchendenBundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz, 2016
- Impact of health literacy, accessibility and coordination of care on patient’s satisfaction with primary care in GermanyBMC Family Practice, 2015
- Effect of Restricting Access to Health Care on Health Expenditures among Asylum-Seekers and Refugees: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Germany, 1994–2013PLOS ONE, 2015
- Patient Satisfaction Survey as a Tool Towards Quality ImprovementOman Medical Journal, 2014
- Factors associated with patient satisfaction with primary care in Europe: results from the EUprimecare project.2014
- Determinants of patient satisfaction: a study among 39 hospitals in an in-patient setting in GermanyInternational Journal for Quality in Health Care, 2011
- Self-reported health problems of asylum seekers and their understanding of the national health service: A pilot studyPublic Health, 2011
- Patients' experiences and satisfaction with health care: results of a questionnaire study of specific aspects of careQuality and Safety in Health Care, 2002
- Satisfaction of Vietnamese patients and their families with refugee and mainstream mental health servicesPsychiatric Services, 1997