OBJECTIVES: A key dimension impacting clinical outcomes in health care evaluation is satisfaction (i.e. the level of meeting user’s expectations for the service), which impact adherence and persistence. Yet, evidence regarding patient dissatisfaction is scarce. Thus, we asked what the level of dissatisfaction is after a health centre (HC) visit, and which factors impact the dissatisfaction? METHODS: A prospective survey to primary care patients visiting 3 Finnish HCs (Linnainmaa, Omapihlaja, Pirkkala) in Pirkanmaa district during 31.1–11.2.2011 was done. No inclusion/exclusion criteria were used. Comprehensive patient-, clinician- and HC-related data was collected. The patient’s satisfaction was measured immediately after the visit in the form of handling problem during a visit (Likert range 0–10). This was inversed to assess the drawback related to the visit (0=full benefit; problem was solved; 10=no benefit; full drawback). An explorative statistical analysis was done including multivariate data mining in order to find the model with the best Akaike information criteria. The model aimed to demonstrate the independent factors impacting the drawback and control heterogeneity. RESULTS: 90.1% of the full sample (n=647) answered to the drawback question. 40.3% of the patients had problem solved during the visit (i.e. reported 0) and just 6.9% of the patients experienced drawback exceeding 5. The factors increasing the drawback in the stepwise OLS regression model with the +1 ln-transformation for the drawback were longer waiting time, asthma/copd and male sex. The factors decreasing the drawback were patient’s higher subjective health status, patient’s higher subjective health status in comparison to others of same age/sex, some long-term conditions (rheumatoid disease, allergy, hip/knee joint erosion), clinician’s longer experience, clinician in specialising education and certain HC. CONCLUSIONS: Some 60% of the patients experienced that their problem was not fully handled. Multiple factors impact the drawback which could be notified in the planning of HC services.