Health status and satisfaction with pharmacy services.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between self-reported health status and satisfaction with pharmacy services.

STUDY DESIGN

Secondary analysis of data previously collected via a computer-assisted telephone interview system.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Survey respondents were enrollees in a large managed care organization who were recent patrons of either traditional or mail pharmacy services. Satisfaction data were gathered using an existing satisfaction with pharmacy services survey. Health status was measured using the Medical Outcome Study's Short-Form 12-Item Health Survey. The relationships between satisfaction with pharmacy services and health status were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

A significant positive relationship between mental health status and satisfaction with pharmacy services was hypothesized and confirmed. The correlations between mental health status and satisfaction, however, were not strong (r = .10 to .18). No relationship between physical health status and satisfaction with pharmacy services was observed. Similar results were observed in patrons of both traditional and mail pharmacy services.

CONCLUSION

This investigation offers evidence that satisfaction with healthcare services is more closely related to mental health status than to physical health status. This has important implications for case-mix adjustments in the measurement of satisfaction with care.