The satisfaction level perceived by Italians during the first phase of the Covid-19 pandemic phase

AIM OF THE WORK: To survey the degree of satisfaction of the Italian population in reference to the health care provided throughout the national territory in the period of emergency COVID-19. METHODS: Observational, cross sectional, multicenter study conducted during the first phase of the pandemic (May-June 2020) involving the national population (n=889) subjects, through an online survey. RESULTS: 889 people participated in the study. Among the greatest satisfaction perceived about the assistance received during the first pandemic wave, there are those towards the health assistance received in general (p=.049), towards people hospitalized (p=.046), and the treatment received for the COVID-19 test (p=.002). Among the greatest difficulties encountered there is also that of contacting the general practitioner (p=.032), to the treatment received from Local Health Authority (p=.006), to the treatment received from the call center numbers activated during the pandemic, as the toll-free number (p<.001) and the “1500” number (p<.001) and to the treatment received for relative (p<.001). The greatest difficulty for all detected was finding surgical masks to protect themselves from infection, in fact 56.14% pf participants declared this difficulty. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has restored the value of our own public and free health system, showing - in a violent way - many of the challenges that have been looking for some time in health services (and not only in Italy) and, for these reasons, it is necessary starting from what has been learned in recent months and drawing new guidelines for the future. (www.actabiomedica.it)