We sought to evaluate the satisfaction of surgical patients in order to identify predictors of patient satisfaction, using a cross-sectional surgery patients' survey in 24 public hospitals in Spain and a total of 15,539 inpatients and 7,899 outpatients.
Results
Seventy-seven percent of inpatients and 88.3% of outpatients were satisfied (χ2 = 509.31; P < .0001). Case-mix and hospital size were associated with satisfaction in inpatients (χ2 = 19.31; P = .013). Older inpatients tended to be more satisfied (χ2 = 80.54; P = .001), whereas; younger outpatients showed higher satisfaction levels (χ2 = 51.73; P = .004). The most influential factors on inpatient satisfaction were information at admission (odds ratio [OR], 4.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.91–5.63), knowing what type of professional one was dealing with at any given time (OR, 4.01; 95% CI, 3.01–5.34), and informed consent (OR, 3.37; 95% CI, 2.41–4.71). For outpatients, the most influential factors were informed consent (OR, 7.62; 95% CI, 3.68–15.80) and information about home care after discharge (OR, 7.010; 95% CI, 3.06–15.96).
Conclusion
We should consider the importance of patient information before and after treatment in the design of clinical pathways to offer better and more comprehensive care to surgical patients.
aUniversidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Elche, Spain
Reprint requests: José Joaquín Mira, PhD, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Edificio Rectorado. Avd Universidad s/n 03202, Elche (Alicante), Spain.
Funded by the Agencia Valenciana de Salud (Health Department of the Valencian Regional Government) and by a research grant from the Generalitat Valenciana (Research and Technology Transfer Department) (reference: 05/030).
ABSTRACT