Objective: A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the views of patients attending two types of clinics for menstrual disorders.
Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interview and quantitative questionnaire.
Setting: Five traditional general gynaecology clinics and a one-stop menstrual clinic, where investigations are performed and results given to patients on the same day.
Participants: Two hundred and thirty-nine women (126 from the gynaecology clinic and 113 from the menstrual clinic) were recruited into the quantitative study; 18 and 26 patients from the gynaecology and the menstrual clinic, respectively, were interviewed for the qualitative study.
Main outcome measures: Women's views about their care and progress towards resolution of their problem.
Results: Following the initial consultation, 106 (84%) of the gynaecology clinic, and 98 (87%) of the menstrual clinic patients completed the first part of the questionnaire. Of those, 75 (71%) and 79 (81%) patients from the two types of clinic, respectively, completed a follow up questionnaire one year later. There were statistically significant differences in all the components of the first part of the questionnaire (information, continuity, waiting, organisation, and limbo) in favour of the one-stop menstrual clinic. After one year, there was a statistically significant difference in one of the components, patient centeredness, but not in overall process co-ordination. The interviews showed that patients attending the menstrual clinic appreciated getting the results of their investigations on the same day. They also found the organisation of the one-stop menstrual clinic more closely suited to their needs and as a result were more likely to feel they were making progress.
Conclusion: Women were consistently more positive about their experience in the one-stop clinic. One-stop clinics organised to meet the needs of patients might be appropriate for other clinical conditions. The combination of quantitative and qualitative methods is an effective method of assessing patients' views of health services.