[영문]BACKGROUND:: Patient satisfaction surveys are widely used to measure patients’ opinions of the quality of the health care they have received. There are a variety of methods for distributing patient satisfaction surveys. Different distribution methods may yield significantly different satisfaction ratings. OBJECTIVE:: We sought to compare survey ratings obtained via 2 distribution methods: handout versus mailed. DESIGN:: Patients were randomized to receive either a handout survey or a mailed survey. SUBJECTS:: Patients who had an appointment with a family practice provider in one of the regional outpatient centers of a large medical clinic during a 3-week period. MEASURES:: An 11-item visit-specific patient satisfaction survey was used to survey patient satisfaction. RESULTS:: Handout surveys yielded higher satisfaction scores than mailed surveys. The response rate was higher with handout surveys than with mailed surveys. However, handout surveys were returned with more skipped questions, a lower variation in ratings, and fewer written comments than the mailed surveys. CONCLUSIONS:: Both quantitative and qualitative differences between the 2 distribution methods were revealed. Attempts to compare data obtained from the 2 different distribution methods need to be approached with caution.