Abstract
The overview study reveals the current knowledge on patient's satisfaction with healthcare, with the emphasis placed on general practice medicine. The study is subdivided into four parts.
Firstly, different approaches to define a concept of patient satisfaction are given. The second part of the study reveals two models of satisfaction, which show relationships between variables (the first emphasizes the physician-patient interaction, the second emphasizes the episodes of care provided).
The third part of study comprises information on variables that influence patient satisfaction. Six factors are given: physician, nurse, patient, provided care, environment, health system and its regulation.
The fourth part deals with functions, which can be used for identifying patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction is important, but not the only parameter of quality of care.