Quality of prosthetic care: patients' level of expectation, attitude and satisfaction.

The aim of this study was to compare pre-treatment level of expectation and attitude and post treatment level of satisfaction with different types of prosthetic treatment according to socio-economic and demographic factors. 162 patients attending for a prosthetic rehabilitation completed an initial questionnaire to assess their level of expectation and attitude; after completion of their treatment, a second questionnaire was mailed to evaluate the level of satisfaction. 94 answers were returned (response rate: 62%). Results showed a high level of satisfaction after all prosthetic treatment, but a significant decrease after treatment when compared to level of expectation and attitude before treatment. Statistical analysis failed to show significant differences between prosthetic treatment, but demonstrated that the place of residence or level of income variable had some influence on the level of expectations and satisfaction. In this population, it was concluded that the pre-treatment data studied had limited value in predicting the outcome of the different prosthetic treatments performed.