SATISFACTION OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CIRCUMPOLAR REGION WITH THE STATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF THEIR HEALTH LITERACY

Abstract

Regions of Arctic Zone and Far North of Russia have a weak social infrastructure, including regional segments of the state healthcare system. The study of citizens satisfaction with the healthcare system is one of the leading methods for assessing its effectiveness. Citizens satisfaction may be distorted by their health literacy (HL). Half of the 'healthy' citizens (51.1%) had an excellent or sufficient level of general GVH; 2/3 of the patients of medical organizations (70.4%) had an insufficient or problematic level of general HL. The level of citizens` satisfaction with domestic healthcare is determined by their clinical status - it is higher in the group of patients (60.1%) than in the group of 'healthy' people (31.0%). Patients evaluate it more loyally in comparison with health people. Respondents with an insufficient HL evaluate the health care system less loyally. The high level of HL allows patients to assess the results of the work of the domestic health care system more objectively in comparison with healthy citizens. The aim of this study is to assess the satisfaction of the residents of the circumpolar region of Russia (the Arkhangelsk Oblast) with the regional segment of the State Healthcare System, depending on the level of their HL.