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The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently published the results of its first international survey conducted directly among patients with chronic diseases. The Patient-Reported Indicator Survey highlights an urgent need to adapt health systems to better meet the needs of the growing number of people with chronic diseases. 

Based on self-reports from 107,000 patients aged ≥ 45 years, across 1800 primary care facilities in 19 countries, the survey presents a mixed picture of chronic disease management in different healthcare systems. 

Variations Across Countries

The survey found that some countries, including Switzerland and the United States (particularly among those aged ≥ 65 years), reported health outcomes above the OECD average. Similarly, patients in Australia, France, Norway, and the Czech Republic reported positive experiences with the quality of care delivered.

In contrast, Greece, Iceland, Portugal, Romania, and Wales (United Kingdom) scored below average on more than half of the quality and access indicators. These disparities highlight the role of health financing and care models in shaping patient outcomes.

Spending and Care Quality

“Patients with chronic conditions report better physical and mental health outcomes when care is centered on their needs,” said OECD secretary-general Mathias Cormann.

According to the survey, 82% of respondents had at least one chronic disease, 52% had at least two, and 27% had three or more.

Notably, 40% of patients do not feel capable of managing their health, and another 40% lack trust in the health system. These findings highlight the need to enhance patient education, communication, and support, particularly in managing their daily health needs. 

Consultation Time and Coordination

The survey also emphasizes the importance of time spent with patients. When healthcare professionals spend adequate time listening to and explaining things to patients, patient trust in the healthcare system rises significantly:

• Overall, 64% of patients whose physicians take the time to engage with them report trust in the healthcare system.
• In contrast, trust drops to 34% when consultations are rushed or insufficient.

According to the report, 45% of patients who have experienced a negative healthcare event, such as delayed diagnoses, treatment errors, or difficulty obtaining timely appointments, still trust the health system. However, among those who have not encountered such issues, trust levels rise to 70%. This finding underscores the importance of improving care coordination, as better collaboration among healthcare providers could help to reduce errors, delays, and disruptions in treatment. 

Additionally, the survey indicates that patients with multiple chronic diseases experience a faster decline in well-being. On average, individuals with at least three chronic conditions scored 14 points lower on the World Health Organization Five-Item Well-Being Index than those with only one chronic disease.

The survey also reveals gender differences in healthcare access and quality perceptions. Among patients with chronic diseases, 74% of men consider themselves in good physical health compared with 65% of women. Similarly, 86% of men consider their mental health to be good compared with 81% of women.

Education level also influences healthcare access and digital literacy. Only 43% of patients with low education levels find it easy to navigate their primary care provider’s website, limiting their access to online services and information.

Despite increasing digitalization across industries, the healthcare sector lags behind in technology adoption. Only 7% of patients with chronic diseases have had a teleconsultation, and only 17% have accessed their medical records online.

The OECD emphasizes the need for health systems to incorporate patient perspectives into decision-making. These findings can guide national health strategies, improve delivery of service, and support a shift toward integrated, patient-centered care models.

This story was translated from MediQuality using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.