Satisfaction of service recipients from health centers with family physician program in Northern provinces of Iran: 2008

The satisfaction of service recipients is an important subject in health care evaluation and its analysis can be used in development and enhancement of acceptable activities or promote weak programs to a suitable range. In this study, the level of satisfaction in service recipients of health centers with family physician program in Northern provinces of Iran was evaluated. This study was cross-sectional descriptive-analytic performed during 2008 in rural regions and towns with an under 20000 population in Northern provinces of Iran. For sampling, at first 20% of health centers in which family physician program was doing were selected by chance (108 centers by Randomized systematic selection). In each center 7-10 service recipients (1057 persons) were interviewed and filled out a questionnaire. Data were analyzed by Chi-square, Fisher's Exact and Kendall's Test in SPSS. In this survey 709(66%) of interviewed individuals were female and 346 (34%) were male. The mean age was 37.6 years. There was no significant relationship between sex and the level of satisfaction, but age had significant relationship. The most of recipients (32.5%) could read and write and were passed primary school. The level of education and total satisfaction had reverse significant relationship. There was a significant relationship between type of assurance and the level of satisfaction. The level of satisfaction showed significant difference in different Universities. There was no significant relationship between location of house and job and the level of satisfaction. In general, the level of satisfaction in recipients was good, therefore managers of health centers should save the present situation although notification to needs and demands and improvement of services is essential.