Sample characteristics
Due to regional differences with respect to population density in each of the nine states in Austria, the percentage of interviewed citizens per state was carefully chosen and corresponded to the percentage of citizens living in each of the nine states. In total 1021 (female: 534, 52.3%) telephone interviews were performed, thereof 21.5% in Vienna, 18.5% in Lower Austria, 17.6% in Upper Austria, 15.8% in Styria, 7.9% in Carinthia, 7.5% in Tyrol, 5.7% in Salzburg, 2.9% in Burgenland and 2.4% in Vorarlberg. Of these, 516 (50.5%) citizens lived in states having a university hospital (Vienna, Styria, Salzburg and Tyrol; Upper Austria was excluded as the university hospital was established in 2016), 234 (22.9%) citizens were between 14 and 30 years of age, 404 (39.6%) were between 31 and 50 years of age and 383 (37.5%) were older than 50 years of age. Concerning income, 182 (17.8%) citizens reported earning less than 1500 €, 215 (21.1%) earned between 1500 and 2400 €, 125 (12.2%) earned between 2400 and 3000 €, 271 (26.5%) earned more than 3000 € income per month and 228 (22.3%) did not provide any information.
Importance of reputation of a hospital
In total, 571 (55.9%) citizens assessed the reputation of a hospital as very important (Fig. 1), 312 (60.9%) citizens living in states with a university hospital assessed the reputation of a hospital as very important (states without a university hospital: 259, 52.3%), 163 (31.8%) as fairly important (states without a university hospital: 203, 41.0%), 29 (5.7%) as slightly important (states without a university hospital: 30, 6.1%), 8 (1.6%) as not at all important (states without a university hospital: 3, 0.6%) and 14 (1.4%) had no opinion. The importance of the reputation of a hospital increased with age (p = 0.003) and was higher for females (p = 0.046). Concerning income per month (p = 0.934) no trend could be seen. For states having a university hospital reputation was significantly more important (p = 0.016).
Importance of detailed explanation of treatment as well as information on associated risk factors and possible further treatment
In total, 739 (72.4%) citizens stated that detailed explanation of the treatment as well as information on associated risk factors and possible further treatments is very important (see also Fig. 2), 397 (77.1%) citizens living in states with a university hospital answered that is very important (states without a university hospital: 342, 68.4%), 106 (20.6%) that it is fairly important (states without a university hospital: 136, 27.2%), 11 (2.1%) that it is slightly important (states without a university hospital: 20, 4.0%), 1 (0.2%) that it is not at all important (states without a university hospital: 2, 0.4%) and 6 (0.6%) had no opinion. There was no significant difference for sex (p = 0.090). The need of detailed explanation increased with age (p = 0.006), with the amount of income per month (p = 0.047) and was also significantly higher for states having a university hospital (p = 0.001).
Importance of information about patient safety measures
In total, 722 (70.7%) citizens stated that information about patient safety measures, such as patient identification by means of patient wristband, safe surgery, or hand hygiene is very important, 394 (77.0%) citizens living in states with a university hospital answered that it is very important (states without a university hospital: 328, 66.0%), 107 (20.9%) that it is fairly important (states without a university hospital: 143, 28.8%), 10 (2.0%) that it is slightly important (states without a university hospital: 22, 4.4%), 1 (0.2%) that it is not important (states without a university hospital: 4, 0.8%) and 12 (1.2%) had no opinion. The importance of receiving information increased significantly with age (p = 0.002), was more important for females (p = 0.030), increased by the amount of income per month (p = 0.040) and was higher for states having a university hospital (p < 0.001) (see also Fig. 3).
Level of trust/confidence in patient safety within Austrian health care system
In total, 249 (24.4%) citizens stated having very high confidence in patient safety (see also Fig. 4), 148 (28.8%) citizens living in states with a university hospital answered that they have a very high trust/confidence in patient safety (states without a university hospital: 101, 20.3%), whereas 236 (46.0%) stated having high (states without a university hospital: 249, 50.1%), 115 (22.4%) medium (states without a university hospital: 126, 25.4%), 14 (2.7%) low (states without a university hospital: 21, 4.2%) confidence in patient safety and 11 (1.1%) had no opinion. There were no significant differences for sex (p = 0.092), age (p = 0.842) or income per month (p = 0.656). For states with university hospitals confidence was significantly higher (p = 0.004).
Importance of receiving information about patient safety measures in your hospital
In total, 807 (79.0%) citizens stated that they would like to receive information on patient safety measures in their hospitals (see also Fig. 5), 447 (87.6%) citizens living in states with a university hospital answered that they want to receive information on patient safety measures (states without a university hospital: 360, 74.5%), whereas 63 (12.4%) indicated that they do not need any information (states without a university hospital: 123, 25.5%) and 28 (2.7%) had no opinion. There were no significant differences for sex (p = 0.254) and income per month (p = 0.924) but increased with age (p = 0.001) and was higher for states with university hospitals (p < 0.001).
Complaining if something did not function satisfactorily
In total, 547 (53.6%) citizens stated that in case something did not function satisfactorily they would address a written complaint to the hospital (see also Fig. 6), 284 (62.8%) citizens living in states with a university hospital answered that they would address a written complaint to the hospital (states without a university hospital: 263, 56.4%), whereas 168 (37.2%) would not complain (states without a university hospital: 203, 43.6%) and 103 (10.1%) had no opinion. There were no significant differences for age (p = 0.069) or states having a university hospital (p = 0.051), but females (p = 0.043) would complain more often and increased with the amount of income per month (p = 0.001).