4839.0 - Patient Experiences in Australia: Summary of Findings, 2012-13 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 21/11/2013   
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IN THIS ISSUE

BACKGROUND

The ABS Patient Experience Survey is conducted annually and collects data on access and barriers to a range of health care services, including general practitioners (GPs), medical specialists, dental professionals, imaging and pathology tests, hospital admissions and emergency department visits. Data is also collected on aspects of communication between patients and health professionals.

This publication presents summary results of the 2012-13 Patient Experience Survey which is the fourth in the series. Where possible, time series results comparing data from previous years surveys to the 2012-13 cycle are available.

Data on patient experiences in accessing health services is of value to both users of health services as well as those aiming to improve the health system. High quality health care leads to better health outcomes, and barriers to accessing health services may impede the best possible outcome. The availability of GPs, impact of varying levels of service and the coordination of health care are all important factors in ensuring an accessible, high quality health care system for all Australians.

PUBLICATION TABLES

The tables and their corresponding relative standard errors are available in Excel spreadsheet form (Data Cube), which can be found on the Downloads tab of the publication (cat. no. 4839.0).

ROUNDING

As estimates have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals. Published proportions are calculated prior to rounding the estimates and therefore some discrepancy may occur between these proportions and those that are calculated from the rounded estimates.

INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.

SURVEY INFORMATION

Information about the survey design and methodology, the quality and interpretation of results, and the range of publications and other data services available or planned is available in the Explanatory Notes. Unless otherwise specified, differences between data items highlighted in the Summary of Findings are statistically significant (refer to Technical Note).