HMO versus private care medical systems: a study to determine the aging consumers' satisfaction with medical care under these two systems.

In one community, 175 aging persons (44 HMO and 132 private medical care patients) completed a 20-item scale that measured satisfaction with medical care. Data on demographics, health care utilization, and self-assessed health status were collected to determine whether these variables would relate to HMO membership. Satisfaction scores were compared between HMO and private care medical groups by multivariate analysis of variance. Satisfaction with the doctor-patient relationship and convenience of care was higher in the private medical care group, whereas satisfaction with cost was higher in the HMO group. Furthermore, the HMO group evaluated private medical care and HMO care similarly. The private medical care group rated HMO care less favorably. Additional comments reveal specific areas of satisfaction/dissatisfaction.