The role of collaborative arrangements on quality perception in ambulatory care. Recent experiences in Italy and implications for future research

The Italian primary care had placed particular emphasis on promoting new organizational arrangements. Few research studies have analyzed their impact on quality perception. With the aim to examine clients’ and physicians’ satisfaction in ambulatory care within the different organizational models, we studied 96 patients (aged between 18-80 years) and 22 physicians (M = 50.33 years). Subjects answered (6 point Likert-type scale) to a 17 items questionnaire (PAT-MED).Factor analyses found four factors accounting for 64.56 % of the common variance. PAT-MED dimensions were compared with the EUROPEP administered only to the clients. We found moderately high level of perceived quality with care. Results showed that GP collaborative arrangements do not affects satisfaction. Gender resulted significantly associated to the privacy protection guaranted by the GP. Marital status and education were not associated with any of the satisfaction measures. Moreover a significant association between age and a number of satisfaction variables was noted. Findings indicated empathic and professional abilities of physicians more important than organizational arrangements.