Factors Influencing Healthcare Satisfaction in Turkey

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to determine the factors affecting healthcare satisfaction using the data of the Life Satisfaction Survey (2014-2018) of the National Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) with the help of a genetic algorithm.Material and Method: The information about the TurkStat micro-data for 2018 includes 246 variables in 60 different question titles. The 2018 model tested the accuracy of the model that was applied on the data collected between the years of 2014 and 2017.The nnet package in the R software was used for prediction and the multinom function in the package was utilized for the multinomial regression estimation.Results: Variables involved in results reflecting healthcare satisfaction were found to be over 43 years of age, cleanliness/hygiene in the health care facility, satisfaction with the physical examination performed by the doctor, and the distance from the hospital. In addition to these variables, satisfaction with municipal services, having good relations with friends and relatives, being happy with one’s life, satisfaction with public security services, administration of justice, and schooling, and digital public services; not experiencing any loss of income, being involved in religious matters, and not being interested in cultural and political issues also accounted for the healthcare satisfaction.Conclusion: Healthcare satisfaction is related not only to the satisfaction of the healthcare service received from the healthcare institution, but also to the satisfaction with the municipal services, public security, and good relations with friends and relatives.