4 in 10 mothers of small children think doctors lack empathy

Forty per cent of mothers of small children believe doctors have too little empathy with their situation. Twenty one per cent do not think they receive satisfactory information about health problems, while 18 per cent believe they have received prescriptions for medicines they don't need, a survey on health problem and health service-related experiences of families with children shows.

In the autumn of 1994 Statistics Norway conducted a questionnaire survey on the experiences of families with children with health problems and the health service. Families with children were selected as the sample population because they have relatively frequent contact with the health service, and because the time surrounding pregnancy, birth and raising small children is a phase of life in which the care-giving occupations in the health service are relatively important.

Few are directly disappointed

The survey of the experiences mothers of small children had while consulting doctors about illness shows that many have little faith in the ability of doctors to understand people's health problems. However, when asked directly how satisfied they are with their local health service, only six per cent of mothers of small children expressed outright dissatisfaction.

More dissatisfaction in municipalities with many interns

Medical interns are unevenly distributed in Norway. Most municipalities do not have interns, but in some municipalities interns provide a substantial percentage of medical services. This applies especially to small rural municipalities. The survey documents that mothers of small children living in such municipalities have to a certain degree more negative experiences when consulting a doctor than do residents of other municipalities. The continuity of the doctor-patient relationship has, however, the biggest influence on health service user satisfaction.

Source

Samfunnsspeilet 3/98: Kan misfornøyde pasienter gi oss bedre helsetjenester? (Can dissatisfied patients give us better health services? For more information, contact: jan. erik. finnvold@ssb.no, tel. +47 21 09 45 46.

Weekly Bulletin issue no. 25, 1998