[Patient preferences or cost-effectiveness? Priorities are highly affected by introduction of economic dimension].

In recent years various methods to measure patient satisfaction have been applied as part of quality improvement programmes in the health services. However, the statistical quality as well as the applicability and change-orientation of the methods have been questioned. Furthermore, most methods pay no attention to economic aspects. Even a methodologically well-founded measurement of patient satisfaction may lead to wrong conclusions unless economic consequences are taken into consideration. It is possible to carry out an integrated analysis that includes patient preferences as well as economic aspects.