Anthony Jerant1, Kevin Fiscella2, Joshua J Fenton3, Elizabeth M Magnan3, Alicia Agnoli3, Peter Franks3. 1. Department of Family and Community Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA. afjerant@ucdavis.edu. 2. Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA. 3. Department of Family and Community Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In a prior study, we found patient satisfaction was associated with mortality. However, that study included few deaths, yielding wide confidence intervals, was criticized for possible morbidity under-adjustment, and lacked power to explore sociodemographic moderation. OBJECTIVE: To revisit the satisfaction-mortality association in a larger national sample, allowing more precise risk estimates, sequential morbidity adjustment, and exploration of sociodemographic moderation. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: 2000-2015 Adult Medical Expenditures Panel Surveys (MEPS) respondents (N = 92,952), each enrolled for 2 consecutive years. MAIN MEASURES: We used five Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey (CAHPS) items to assess patients' year 1 satisfaction with their clinicians. Death during the 2 years of MEPS participation was determined by proxy report. We modeled the satisfaction-mortality association in sequential regressions: model 1 included sociodemographics, model 2 added health status (approximating recommended CAHPS adjustment), and model 3 added smoking status, disease burden, and healthcare utilization. KEY RESULTS: Satisfaction was not associated with mortality in model 1. In model 2, higher satisfaction was associated with higher mortality (hazard ratios [95% CIs] for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th (top) quartiles vs. 1st quartile: 1.28 (1.01, 1.62), P = 0.04; 1.43 (1.12, 1.82), P = 0.004; and 1.57 (1.25, 1.98), P < 0.001, respectively). The associations were not attenuated in model 3. There was a significant interaction between gender and satisfaction (F[3, 443] = 3.62, P = 0.01). The association between satisfaction and mortality was significant in women only, such that their mortality advantage over men was eliminated in the highest satisfaction quartile. CONCLUSIONS: The association of higher patient satisfaction with clinicians with higher short-term mortality was evident only after CAHPS-recommended adjustment, was not attenuated by further morbidity adjustment, and was evident in women but not men. The findings suggest that characteristics among women who are more satisfied with their clinicians may be associated with increased mortality risk.
BACKGROUND: In a prior study, we found patient satisfaction was associated with mortality. However, that study included few deaths, yielding wide confidence intervals, was criticized for possible morbidity under-adjustment, and lacked power to explore sociodemographic moderation. OBJECTIVE: To revisit the satisfaction-mortality association in a larger national sample, allowing more precise risk estimates, sequential morbidity adjustment, and exploration of sociodemographic moderation. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: 2000-2015 Adult Medical Expenditures Panel Surveys (MEPS) respondents (N = 92,952), each enrolled for 2 consecutive years. MAIN MEASURES: We used five Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey (CAHPS) items to assess patients' year 1 satisfaction with their clinicians. Death during the 2 years of MEPS participation was determined by proxy report. We modeled the satisfaction-mortality association in sequential regressions: model 1 included sociodemographics, model 2 added health status (approximating recommended CAHPS adjustment), and model 3 added smoking status, disease burden, and healthcare utilization. KEY RESULTS: Satisfaction was not associated with mortality in model 1. In model 2, higher satisfaction was associated with higher mortality (hazard ratios [95% CIs] for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th (top) quartiles vs. 1st quartile: 1.28 (1.01, 1.62), P = 0.04; 1.43 (1.12, 1.82), P = 0.004; and 1.57 (1.25, 1.98), P < 0.001, respectively). The associations were not attenuated in model 3. There was a significant interaction between gender and satisfaction (F[3, 443] = 3.62, P = 0.01). The association between satisfaction and mortality was significant in women only, such that their mortality advantage over men was eliminated in the highest satisfaction quartile. CONCLUSIONS: The association of higher patient satisfaction with clinicians with higher short-term mortality was evident only after CAHPS-recommended adjustment, was not attenuated by further morbidity adjustment, and was evident in women but not men. The findings suggest that characteristics among women who are more satisfied with their clinicians may be associated with increased mortality risk.
Entities:
Keywords:
United States; gender; morbidity; mortality; patient satisfaction; population characteristics
Authors: Rebecca Anhang Price; Marc N Elliott; Alan M Zaslavsky; Ron D Hays; William G Lehrman; Lise Rybowski; Susan Edgman-Levitan; Paul D Cleary Journal: Med Care Res Rev Date: 2014-07-15 Impact factor: 3.929
Authors: David A Dorr; Spencer S Jones; Laurie Burns; Steven M Donnelly; Cherie P Brunker; Adam Wilcox; Paul D Clayton Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2006-04 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Joshua J Fenton; Anthony Jerant; Richard L Kravitz; Klea D Bertakis; Daniel J Tancredi; Elizabeth M Magnan; Peter Franks Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2017-09-12 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Lisa D DiMartino; Justin Kirschner; George L Jackson; Michelle A Mollica; Lisa M Lines Journal: Cancer Causes Control Date: 2021-05-27 Impact factor: 2.532