Satisfaction with health care among dermatological inpatients.

Measuring patient satisfaction is regarded as one of the principal methods for obtaining patients' evaluation of services they receive. During the last decades more interest has been devoted to inpatients' preferences and needs. Surveys on patient satisfaction may provide information to hospitals about areas where improvement is needed. In this survey, 648 questionnaires were completed by dermatological inpatients and were analyzed for overall satisfaction and seven satisfaction determinants. Background factors and clinical parameters were considered. Emotional support was recognized as a critical area. "Coordination of care" and "information and education" were identified as the most relevant determinants for overall patient satisfaction. The Hospital Management, taking into account the results, planned training in order to improve personnel's communication skills. This study confirms that patient satisfaction analysis is a useful instrument also among dermatological inpatients, and satisfaction is a valid measure of quality of health care.