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Introduction: Satisfaction of patients is believed to be a key factor indicating the quality of health care. Furthermore, satisfaction from the health care guarantees good co-operation, effective treatment and patient’s health. This paper is an attempt to define factors determining satisfaction of patients with diabetes from functioning of the primary health care system (health service) in Poland. Material and methods: The research had been carried out in 61 randomly chosen national basic health service units. Research materials have been obtained from 1986 patients with diabetes aged above 16 years, registered on the list of the local GP. For the purpose of this work, research has been carried based on: guided nurse examination, relative assessment of fitness, GP’s documentation, anonymous questionnaire, conducted among patients. Results: Significant majority of 1986 patients with diabetes, who participated in this research, expressed their opinion on functioning of the primary health care system (87.7%). Satisfaction from its functioning declares every second patient (52%), every third questioned patient (35.7%) indicates deficiency (26.5%) or lack of satisfaction (9.2%). Conclusions: This research showed plurality of factors determining satisfaction of patients with diabetes from the functioning of the primary health care system. The patients who critically access functioning of the health care system more frequently express expectations regarding education, family care, GP’s care and are characterised with a higher demand for help. (Clin Exp Med Lett 2009; 50(1)11-18)

Keywords: diabetes, service health care, Satisfaction