ABSTRACT:

The prevalence of need of, access to, and dissatisfaction with ophthalmic assistance was estimated among those who were assisted in such services in the last year; factors associated with dissatisfaction were identified. Complex probabilistic sample was used. A descriptive, bivariate, and multiple analysis with correction for design effect was conducted. Of 2.582 participants, 76% needed assistance and, of those, 82.5% possessed access to it. Among patients who received assistance in the last year, 13.1% were dissatisfied. Dissatisfaction was higher among older patients, those who went walking or cycling to the location of assistance, and those who described the following aspects as regular/bad/terrible: being received and treated with respect, the clarity with which the service provider explained things, and their autonomy to choose their provider of ophthalmic assistance. Most of them was in need of and possessed access to assistance. Dissatisfaction was low. Patient's age, means of transport used to get to the local of the assistance, patient-professional relationship, and autonomy to choose are factors that interfere for the outcome of dissatisfaction.

Keywords:
Patient satisfaction; Health services; Quality of health care; Ophthalmology; Health services evaluation; Health services accessibility

INTRODUCTION

The evaluation of quality of service and user satisfaction with health care has been given focus increasingly in scientific literature¹1. Smith KB, Humphreys JS, Jones JA. Essential tips for measuring levels of consumer satisfaction with rural health service quality. Rural Remote Health 2006; 6(4): 594.^,22. Donabedian A. The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA 1988; 260(12): 1743-8.^,33. Vaitsman J, Andrade GRB. Satisfação e responsividade: formas de medir a qualidade e a humanização da assistência à saúde. Ciênc Saúde Colet 2005; 10(3): 599-613.^,44. Gattinara BC, Ibacache J, Puente CT, Giaconi J, Caprara A. Percepción de la comnidad acerca de la calidad de los servicios de salud públicos en los distritos Norte e Ichilo, Bolíva. Cad Saúde Pública 1995; 11(3): 425-38.^,55. Pereira JM, Salomão SR, Cinoto RW, Mendieta L, Sacai PY, Berezovsky A, et al. Avaliação dos serviços de assistência ocular em população urbana de baixa renda da cidade de São Paulo - Brasil. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2009; 72(3): 332-40.. Satisfaction relates to the vision and/or experience of users at the services²2. Donabedian A. The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA 1988; 260(12): 1743-8.^,33. Vaitsman J, Andrade GRB. Satisfação e responsividade: formas de medir a qualidade e a humanização da assistência à saúde. Ciênc Saúde Colet 2005; 10(3): 599-613.. User evaluation, important management tool, enables the organization and ordering of resources, aiming to appropriately meet the population's health needs. The identification of determinants of dissatisfaction can lead to improvements in patient-professional relationship, in the physical structure of health facilities and in health outcomes²2. Donabedian A. The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA 1988; 260(12): 1743-8., i.e., the quality of service delivered.

The quality of health services can be seen as the result of various factors such as professional competence, access, effectiveness or resoluteness of care, efficiency, and user satisfaction⁴4. Gattinara BC, Ibacache J, Puente CT, Giaconi J, Caprara A. Percepción de la comnidad acerca de la calidad de los servicios de salud públicos en los distritos Norte e Ichilo, Bolíva. Cad Saúde Pública 1995; 11(3): 425-38.. Among different health services, ophthalmic care has been evaluated from the perspective of users⁵5. Pereira JM, Salomão SR, Cinoto RW, Mendieta L, Sacai PY, Berezovsky A, et al. Avaliação dos serviços de assistência ocular em população urbana de baixa renda da cidade de São Paulo - Brasil. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2009; 72(3): 332-40.. The assessment indicates that these care services deserve attention because of the high prevalence of ophthalmic problems found in the population⁶6. Temporini ER, Kara-Jose N. A perda da visão: estratégias de prevenção. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2004; 67(4): 597-601.^,77. Gaete MIL, Lira RPC, Moraes LFL, Vasconcelos MSL, Oliveira CV. Associação entre a necessidade de prescrição de correção óptica e outras doenças oculares em crianças na idade escolar. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2007; 70(6): 949-52.. The shortage of qualified ophthalmic care services, economic difficulties, lack of care, and insufficient or lack of educational efforts for the adoption of preventive behavior regarding ophthalmic health are also considered⁶6. Temporini ER, Kara-Jose N. A perda da visão: estratégias de prevenção. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2004; 67(4): 597-601.. Therefore, the evaluation of ophthalmic care from the perspective of users is mandatory with view to the organization and improvement of assistance⁸8. Akerman M, Nadanovsky P. Avaliação dos Serviços de Saúde: avaliar o quê? Cad Saúde Pública 1992; 8(4): 361-5. or the preparation and upgrading ophthalmic health policies⁹9. Tay T, Rochtchina E, Mitchell P, Lindley R, Wang JJ. Eye care service utilization in older people seeking aged care. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol 2006; 34(2): 141-5..

The World Health Organization has proposed a method to assess effectiveness of health systems addressing the relevance, recognition, and responsiveness of users to the health system. This method was found in the Responsiveness Questionnaire Ophthalmic Care System (QRSAO), which was based on the responsiveness of individuals at the health service, i.e., how well the health system responds to the population's legitimate expectations. QRSAO considers the following domains: timeliness in attendance, dignity, privacy, communication, autonomy, choice and infrastructure, and the element of approach is the users' response to the health system⁵5. Pereira JM, Salomão SR, Cinoto RW, Mendieta L, Sacai PY, Berezovsky A, et al. Avaliação dos serviços de assistência ocular em população urbana de baixa renda da cidade de São Paulo - Brasil. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2009; 72(3): 332-40.^,1010. World Health Organization. Background paper for the technical consultation on responsiveness concepts and measurement. Geneva: WHO; 2001.. QRSAO had been formerly used in a Brazilian study⁵5. Pereira JM, Salomão SR, Cinoto RW, Mendieta L, Sacai PY, Berezovsky A, et al. Avaliação dos serviços de assistência ocular em população urbana de baixa renda da cidade de São Paulo - Brasil. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2009; 72(3): 332-40..

The quality of health services is often seen as the main factor to be considered when evaluating these services¹¹11. Vuori HV. Quality assurance of health services: concepts and methodology. Copenhagen: WHO; 1982.. In 1988, Donabedian²2. Donabedian A. The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA 1988; 260(12): 1743-8. suggested that the best strategy to assess health care must involve the triad structure-results-process. Structure refers to the characteristics involving suppliers, instruments, and resources and physical and organizational conditions; process corresponds to the relationship established between professionals and patients during health-care activities; and results are related to the changes seen in health status, knowledge, behaviors, and satisfaction with the care provided in health services from the perspective of patients²2. Donabedian A. The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA 1988; 260(12): 1743-8..

Considering the questions proposed by QRSAO⁵5. Pereira JM, Salomão SR, Cinoto RW, Mendieta L, Sacai PY, Berezovsky A, et al. Avaliação dos serviços de assistência ocular em população urbana de baixa renda da cidade de São Paulo - Brasil. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2009; 72(3): 332-40. and the triad of Donabedian²2. Donabedian A. The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA 1988; 260(12): 1743-8., this study aimed to identify the prevalence of need of and access to assistance at ophthalmic care services among elected subjects from a population-based household study. In addition, among those who used such services, the prevalence and factors related to dissatisfaction with assistance was also obtained.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study composed of interviews with a representative from households selected according to a probabilistic complex cluster sampling in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais (Brazil), 2012. Patients who had received ophthalmic care assistance in the previous year were eligible to evaluate ophthalmic services. We investigated the need of and access to ophthalmic care, social and demographic characteristics of patients, satisfaction with the service delivered, characteristics/structure of assistance, and QRSAO process/structure.

The estimate of cluster sampling considered the population reported by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in 2010, a 50% proportion, 5% error, 20% nonresponse rate, and deff (design effect) of 2.0. A plan of cluster sampling in two stages was performed; first, we randomly selected 30 census tracts by probability proportional to size (PPT), and for each sector drawn, the sampling fraction was calculated based on the number of households selected and the total households in the municipality. In the second stage, a percentage of blocks in each sector selected in the first stage were drawn by simple random sampling. All households of the selected blocks were visited, and only one resident, aging more than 18 years, was invited to participate in the survey. The sampling fraction of that stage was obtained by dividing the number of households visited in each area by the total number of households in that sector.

Then, the probability of inclusion of each household was calculated by the product of probability of inclusion in both stages. The response rate (T _r ) of each sector was incorporated, and the final probability of inclusion of each household was then obtained. Different weights were assigned to sample elements, as they were calculated using the inverse of the product of probabilities of inclusion in the various stages of selection; nonresponse rates by conglomerate were also considered¹²12. Szwarcwald CL, Damacena GN. Amostras complexas em inquéritos populacionais: planejamento e implicações na análise estatística dos dados. Rev Bras Epidemiol 2008; 11(Suppl 1): 38-45.. A sample of 2,712 people was estimated, among those who agreed to participate. The study population to evaluate dissatisfaction with health services was composed by people who reported using ophthalmic care services in the previous year and people who answered the question about the assistance received.

Interviews were conducted by medical, dentistry, or mathematics students who had attended a training.

The evaluation of ophthalmic care services was obtained from the question: "Overall, would you say you are very satisfied, partially satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, partially dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the conditions of the services provided?". The answer was dichotomized in "satisfied" (very satisfied/partially satisfied) or "dissatisfied" (neither satisfied nor dissatisfied/partially dissatisfied/very dissatisfied).

The variables assessed were: sociodemographic characteristics, ophthalmic care features; QRSAO, process domains (dignity, privacy, communication, and autonomy), and infrastructure⁵5. Pereira JM, Salomão SR, Cinoto RW, Mendieta L, Sacai PY, Berezovsky A, et al. Avaliação dos serviços de assistência ocular em população urbana de baixa renda da cidade de São Paulo - Brasil. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2009; 72(3): 332-40.^,1010. World Health Organization. Background paper for the technical consultation on responsiveness concepts and measurement. Geneva: WHO; 2001.. This instrument, to be found in a previous publication⁵5. Pereira JM, Salomão SR, Cinoto RW, Mendieta L, Sacai PY, Berezovsky A, et al. Avaliação dos serviços de assistência ocular em população urbana de baixa renda da cidade de São Paulo - Brasil. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2009; 72(3): 332-40., comprised aspects of ophthalmic care, was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), and translated into the Brazilian Portuguese language and culture⁵5. Pereira JM, Salomão SR, Cinoto RW, Mendieta L, Sacai PY, Berezovsky A, et al. Avaliação dos serviços de assistência ocular em população urbana de baixa renda da cidade de São Paulo - Brasil. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2009; 72(3): 332-40.. It assesses user responsiveness as to the service used when it comes to: timeliness in attendance, dignity, privacy, communication, autonomy to choose, and infrastructure⁵5. Pereira JM, Salomão SR, Cinoto RW, Mendieta L, Sacai PY, Berezovsky A, et al. Avaliação dos serviços de assistência ocular em população urbana de baixa renda da cidade de São Paulo - Brasil. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2009; 72(3): 332-40.. In a pilot study that required a workload of 40 hours, interviewers were trained by one of the authors who possessed experience in training and gauging for epidemiological studies. Reliability of QRASO was estimated and the questionnaire applied and reapplied to 80 volunteers not included in the analysis of the results of this study over a two-week range, and a reasonable agreement kappa coefficients ≥ 0.61 was found¹³13. Cicchetti DV, Volkmar F, Sparrow SS, Cohen D, Fermanian J, Rourke BP. Assessing the reliability of clinical scales when the data have both nominal and ordinal features: proposed guidelines for neuropsychological assessments. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 1992; 14(5): 673-86..

Absolute values, the percentage with correction for the design effect in descriptive analysis, the magnitude of dissatisfaction with the services provided in association with independent variables - odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), were estimated. Bivariate analyses were conducted using the χ² test, considering variables with p-value < 0.20 in the multiple model. Multiple analyses were made by logistic regression at a 5% significance level. The software SPSS^(r) 17.0 was used to input data. The research complied with ethical principles, protocol 112/2010 at the Ethics Committee of Faculdades Unidas do Norte de Minas, Brazil Educational Society (FUNORTE/SOEBRAS).

RESULTS

Of patients selected, four refused to participate (response rate = 99.8%). Of 2,582 participants, 2,578 were evaluated as to the need of ophthalmic care; 24% of the sample referred never demanding assistance before. Of those who were in need of assistance, 82.5% possessed access to it. Among those who possessed access, 41.2% reported having got ophthalmic care in the previous year. Among those who got ophthalmic care in the previous year, 0.5% did not answer the question addressing ophthalmic care assessment and, therefore, did not participate (Figure 1).

Those who needed and could access ophthalmic care in the previous year were characterized as to sociodemographic conditions, satisfaction with care provided, characteristics of care/structure, and issues relating to domains structure and process, addressed by QRSAO. Most respondents were female subjects, with 13 or more years of schooling and having used private/insured/other service. The domains of QRSAO were mostly reported as an excellent/good experience of being treated with respect, having autonomy to choose the professional and service location (Table 1). Among respondents, 13% said they were dissatisfied with the care provided. In the bivariate analysis, associations (p ≤ 0.20) considered in the multivariate analysis were identified (Table 1).

In the multivariate analysis, a greater level of dissatisfaction with ophthalmic care was found as users' age increased and according to means of transportation used to get to the place of appointment, the experience of having been welcomed and treated with respect, the clarity with which the provider explained things, and the user's autonomy to choose the provider of service, as per the domains of dignity, communication, and autonomy established at QRASO (Table 2).

DISCUSSION

Most patients reported a need for ophthalmic care (76.0%). It points out that the need for and access to this kind of attention can highlight the importance of such assistance for the quality of these people's vision and health⁶6. Temporini ER, Kara-Jose N. A perda da visão: estratégias de prevenção. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2004; 67(4): 597-601.. Approximately 17% of those who need the assistance could not access it. In Australia, access to care was not evaluated, but among 4,612 users, 8.9% had never had assistance¹⁴14. Keeffe JE, Weih LM, McCarty CA, Taylor HR. Utilization of eye care services by urban and rural Australians. Br J Ophthalmol 2002; 86(1): 24-7.. In Montes Claros, the waiting time between the identification of visual problem and setting up appointments was not investigated, and dissatisfaction of users may be affected by difficulties in access to care.

The evaluation of health care quality is important for the planning and management of health services²2. Donabedian A. The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA 1988; 260(12): 1743-8.^,1515. Westaway MS, Rheeder P, van Zyl DG, Seager JR. Interpersonal and organizational dimensions of patient satisfaction: the moderating effects of health status. Int J Qual Health Care 2003; 15(4): 337-44.. A service is considered of good quality when there is resolution and satisfaction with the service provided, comprising physical structure of the service and professional-user relationship²2. Donabedian A. The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA 1988; 260(12): 1743-8.^,1616. Ramírez AM, Puga MAVD, Rodriguez FN, Uribe JR, Ramos AR, Urrea IV. Hacia una estrategia de garantía de calidad: satisfacción en la utilización de los servicios médicos. Cad Saúde Pública 1996; 12(3): 399-403.^,1717. Katorski LP, Jardim VR, Wetzel C, Olschowsky A, Schneider JF, Heck RM, et al. Satisfação dos usuários dos centros de atenção psicossocial da região Sul do Brasil. Rev Saúde Pública 2009; 43(Suppl 1): 29-35.. The satisfaction of users with ophthalmic care was previously evaluated⁵5. Pereira JM, Salomão SR, Cinoto RW, Mendieta L, Sacai PY, Berezovsky A, et al. Avaliação dos serviços de assistência ocular em população urbana de baixa renda da cidade de São Paulo - Brasil. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2009; 72(3): 332-40.^,1818. Gentil RM, Leal SMR, Scarpi MJ. Avaliação da resolutividade e da satisfação da clientela de um serviço de referência secundária em oftalmologia da Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2003; 66(2): 159-65.^,1919. Hercos BVS, Berezovsky A. Qualidade do serviço oftalmológico prestado aos pacientes ambulatoriais do Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2006; 69(2): 213-9.^,2020. Benazzi LEB, Figueiredo ACL, Bassani DG. Avaliação do usuário sobre o atendimento oftalmológico oferecido pelo SUS em um centro urbano no sul do Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva 2010; 15(3): 861-8., but studies have identified factors associated with dissatisfaction instead.

In Montes Claros, 13% of participants said they were dissatisfied with ophthalmic care. Possibly owing to different assessment criteria working conditions and performance of professionals, different rates were reported in previous studies¹⁸18. Gentil RM, Leal SMR, Scarpi MJ. Avaliação da resolutividade e da satisfação da clientela de um serviço de referência secundária em oftalmologia da Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2003; 66(2): 159-65.^,1919. Hercos BVS, Berezovsky A. Qualidade do serviço oftalmológico prestado aos pacientes ambulatoriais do Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2006; 69(2): 213-9.^,2121. Silva LMP, Muccioli C, Belfort Junior R. Perfil socioeconômico e satisfação dos pacientes atendidos no mutirão de catarata do Instituto da Visão - UNIFESP. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2004; 67(5): 737-44.. In one study, the percentage of resolution was 85.96%, and the level of dissatisfaction was 0%¹⁸18. Gentil RM, Leal SMR, Scarpi MJ. Avaliação da resolutividade e da satisfação da clientela de um serviço de referência secundária em oftalmologia da Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2003; 66(2): 159-65.. In southern Brazil, dissatisfaction was 22.8%²⁰20. Benazzi LEB, Figueiredo ACL, Bassani DG. Avaliação do usuário sobre o atendimento oftalmológico oferecido pelo SUS em um centro urbano no sul do Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva 2010; 15(3): 861-8.. The percentage at the Ophthalmology Institute of Federal University of São Paulo was 9%²¹21. Silva LMP, Muccioli C, Belfort Junior R. Perfil socioeconômico e satisfação dos pacientes atendidos no mutirão de catarata do Instituto da Visão - UNIFESP. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2004; 67(5): 737-44.. Virtually, 0% of users of an hospital described the service as poor/very bad²²22. Machado MC, Medina FMC, Kara-Jose N. Percepção dos usuários, profissionais de saúde e gestores sobre o modelo de atendimento oftalmológico no Hospital Regional de Divinolândia - São Paulo. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2010; 73(3): 276-81.. In 2004, Hilton Rocha Foundation registered dissatisfaction regarding reliability and punctuality of appointments and the provision of services in due time¹⁹19. Hercos BVS, Berezovsky A. Qualidade do serviço oftalmológico prestado aos pacientes ambulatoriais do Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2006; 69(2): 213-9..

In Montes Claros, health policies should be aimed to minimize dissatisfaction with these services, as some of the people who report being satisfied may actually be thankful for being able to access services without direct financial costs for them, i.e., provided by the Public Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS). These users probably do not recognize the right to health care as a citizenship right³3. Vaitsman J, Andrade GRB. Satisfação e responsividade: formas de medir a qualidade e a humanização da assistência à saúde. Ciênc Saúde Colet 2005; 10(3): 599-613.. We point out that despite dissatisfaction rate found in studies, a high prevalence of access to ophthalmic care and satisfaction of users is also found, which may indicate the resolution and quality of services in the municipality through SUS and ease of access.

In the multivariate analysis, among other issues related to the triad structure-process-results, result was the main user dissatisfaction, and an association of dissatisfaction with the process is also seen (dignity/communication). Despite the fact that the physical structure where the service is provided and/or the organization can influence user satisfaction²³23. Danielsen K, Bjertnaes OA, Garratt A, Forland O, Iversen HH, Hunskaar S. The association between demographic factors, user reported experiences and user satisfaction: results from three casualty clinics in Norway. BMC Fam Pract 2010; 11: 73., in this study, the structure²2. Donabedian A. The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA 1988; 260(12): 1743-8. was not associated with it. It is suggested that the feeling of gratitude for using these services without direct costs makes users evaluate services with poor infrastructure positively. The possibility of a satisfactory structure and users' different expectations or criteria to assess service is also emphasized, as it may or not be related to satisfaction. Therefore, for further clarification, a technical evaluation of the structure of services should have been conducted and confronted with the perspective of users.

Dissatisfaction with these services was higher among older patients, results that are similar to those of a study that investigated satisfaction with hospitalization services⁴4. Gattinara BC, Ibacache J, Puente CT, Giaconi J, Caprara A. Percepción de la comnidad acerca de la calidad de los servicios de salud públicos en los distritos Norte e Ichilo, Bolíva. Cad Saúde Pública 1995; 11(3): 425-38.. The elderly people consider fundamental a medical user relationship ruled on trust and good communication²⁴24. Owsley C, McGwin G, Scilley K, Girkin CA, Phillips JM, Searcey K. Perceived barriers to care and attitudes about vision and eye care: focus groups with older African Americans and eye care providers. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2006; 47(7): 2797-802.. The fact that the elderly people use ophthalmic care services more frequently can raise their demand levels.

Dissatisfaction with ophthalmic care services was associated with the means of transportation used by the users to get to the services, suggesting iniquity or difficulty of access among those who need it the most. Family income, schooling²⁵25. Bós AMG, Bós AJG. Determinantes na escolha entre atendimento de saúde privada e pública por idosos. Rev Saúde Pública 2004; 38(1): 113-20., and the geographical location²⁶26. Santos IS, Baroni RC, Minotto I, Klumb AG. Critérios de escolha de postos de saúde para acompanhamento pré-natal em Pelotas, RS. Rev Saúde Pública 2000; 34(6): 603-9. of users interfere in the choice of the service to be used. Equity is one of the principles of SUS²⁷27. Brasil. Lei nº 8.080, de 19 de setembro de 1990. Dispõe sobre as condições para promoção, proteção e recuperação da saúde, a organização e o funcionamento dos serviços correspondentes e dá outras providências. Brasília: Diário Oficial da União; 1990. p.18055-9.; so, those who need it the most must be prioritized.

Those who described the experience of being welcomed and treated with respect as fair/poor/very poor showed more dissatisfaction. A previous study found higher prevalence rates of satisfaction among users who mentioned that the doctor would greet them, be attentive, let them talk about their problems, examine them, show interested in their case, give them the opportunity to solve doubts, explain their problems, use clear language; in short, users who referred to their relationship with the doctor as very good or good¹⁹19. Hercos BVS, Berezovsky A. Qualidade do serviço oftalmológico prestado aos pacientes ambulatoriais do Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2006; 69(2): 213-9..

One must consider the possibility of action-reaction in this association: the satisfied user tends to treat professionals with respect, and, hence, the professional tends to offer a respectful treatment to this user, who gets satisfied with the service. Important to note, however, that health professionals must be prepared to act respectfully with users, even if they feel disrespected. Humanization in health care must be improved, aiming to promote actions, campaigns, and welfare policies based on dignity, ethics, respect, mutual recognition, and solidarity³3. Vaitsman J, Andrade GRB. Satisfação e responsividade: formas de medir a qualidade e a humanização da assistência à saúde. Ciênc Saúde Colet 2005; 10(3): 599-613.^,2828. Oliveira BRG, Collet N, Vieira CS. A humanização na assistência à saúde. Rev Latino-Am Enfermagem 2006; 14(2): 277-84..

The association between dissatisfaction and communication between the professional and the user of the health service reflects the importance of clarity in explanations given by doctors and enough time for users to ask questions and solve doubts; so, the relationship between professionals and patients is an important predictor of quality of the assistance provided²⁹29. Martins AM, Jardim LA, Souza JGS, Rodrigues CA, Ferreira RC, Pordeus IA. Is the negative evaluation of dental services among the Brazilian elderly population associated with the type of service? Rev Bras Epidemiol 2014; 17(1): 71-90.. In Montes Claros, dissatisfaction was more reported by those who mentioned the clarity with which the provider explained things, and the time they had to ask questions about their problem or treatment was fair/poor/very poor, as shown in a previous study²⁰20. Benazzi LEB, Figueiredo ACL, Bassani DG. Avaliação do usuário sobre o atendimento oftalmológico oferecido pelo SUS em um centro urbano no sul do Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva 2010; 15(3): 861-8.. The right to information about a person's own health is guaranteed by law²⁷27. Brasil. Lei nº 8.080, de 19 de setembro de 1990. Dispõe sobre as condições para promoção, proteção e recuperação da saúde, a organização e o funcionamento dos serviços correspondentes e dá outras providências. Brasília: Diário Oficial da União; 1990. p.18055-9.. People have the right to make decisions about their own health, thus their "health literacy,"³⁰30. Sørensen K, Van den Broucke S, Fullam J, Doyle G, Pelikan J, Slonska Z, et al. Health literacy and public health: a systematic review and integration of definitions and models. BMC Public Health 2012; 12: 80. meaning their ability to obtain, process, and understand the necessary information to make decisions about their health, must be respected³⁰30. Sørensen K, Van den Broucke S, Fullam J, Doyle G, Pelikan J, Slonska Z, et al. Health literacy and public health: a systematic review and integration of definitions and models. BMC Public Health 2012; 12: 80..

One must consider the possibility of feedback in this association, for users with good levels of health literacy tend to pass on clear information for professionals, and when professionals understand the users, they tend to establish a clear communication, and, therefore, users get satisfied. However, it is emphasized that professionals must know how to deal with users with low health literacy levels and promote educational activities to improve such levels³⁰30. Sørensen K, Van den Broucke S, Fullam J, Doyle G, Pelikan J, Slonska Z, et al. Health literacy and public health: a systematic review and integration of definitions and models. BMC Public Health 2012; 12: 80.. The need for training and improving skills is an important factor reported by professionals of ophthalmology³¹31. Astle WF, El-Defrawy S, LaRoche GR, Lafontaine MD, Anderson LD, Dukes M, et al. Survey on allied health personnel in Canadian ophthalmology: the scalpel for change. Can J Ophthalmol 2011; 46(1): 28-34. and, therefore, should be considered, noting the possibility of improvement of the service delivered and the professional-patient relationship.

The dissatisfaction of users with ophthalmic care services was higher among those who rated their autonomy to choose the professional as bad, regular, or very bad. The principle of autonomy at SUS²2. Donabedian A. The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA 1988; 260(12): 1743-8. relates to the possibility of users to decide which professional will assist them, which treatment to accept or allow, based on their creed or other reason, thus determining their interests independently³²32. Marchi MM, Sztajn R. Autonomia e heteronomia na relação entre profissional de saúde e usuário dos serviços de saúde. Bioética 2009; 6(1): 39-45.. It actually seems that users are not entitled to choose the professional who will assist them, and the scheduling of appointments is made disregarding their autonomy, which contributes to further dehumanization. All of this should be taken into account aiming at humanizing³3. Vaitsman J, Andrade GRB. Satisfação e responsividade: formas de medir a qualidade e a humanização da assistência à saúde. Ciênc Saúde Colet 2005; 10(3): 599-613.^,3333. Cotta RMM, Reis RS, Campos AAO, Gomes AP, Antonio VE, Siqueira-Batista R. Debates atuais em humanização e saúde: quem somos nós? Ciênc Saúde Coletiva 2013; 18(1): 171-9. and reorganizing health services. Moreover, the long wait for assistance for some ophthalmic problems in public services³⁴34. Kara-Junior N, Dellapi Junior R, Espindola RF. Dificuldades de acesso ao tratamento de pacientes com indicação de cirurgia de catarata nos Sistemas de Saúde Público e Privado. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2011; 74(5): 323-5. may lead the user to accept any proposed professional.

One of the limitations of this study is the fact that QRSAO evaluates the structure of service considering two features only. Clinical, service, and structure effectiveness has not been evaluated from the perspective of ophthalmology professionals.

CONCLUSION

The percentage of need for ophthalmic care was 76%. Most patients in need of this assistance possessed support; however, access to such assistance should be improved, as 17.5% required care but did not obtain. Among those who accessed these services in the previous year, 13% were dissatisfied with them. In the evaluation by users, the dissatisfaction with ophthalmic care was associated with: the user's age; the means of transportation used to get to the service; the professional/user relationship, i.e., respect to the user; and the clarity with which the provider explained the proposed procedures, preventive measures and/or self-care, and autonomy of choice by users. Ophthalmologists and managers should consider these factors when planning and implementing assistance policies of eophthalmic care in order to minimize dissatisfaction among users.

References

Publication Dates

History