Kira-Lee Koster1,2, Carolin Björklund1, Sebastian Fenner1, Wolfgang Johann Flierler1, Michael Laupheimer3, Katharina Burri4, Matthias Nübling5, Thomas Heidegger6,7. 1. Department of Anaesthesia, Spital Grabs, Spitalstr. 44, 9472, Grabs, Switzerland. 2. Department of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland. 3. Institute of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Klinikum Memmingen, Memmingen, Germany. 4. Institute of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Hirslanden Klinik Stephanshorn, St. Gallen, Switzerland. 5. Data and Consulting, GDB mbH, Denzlingen, Germany. 6. Department of Anaesthesia, Spital Grabs, Spitalstr. 44, 9472, Grabs, Switzerland. thomas.heidegger@srrws.ch. 7. Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. thomas.heidegger@srrws.ch.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Up to now, no prospective cohort study using a validated questionnaire has assessed patients' expectation and perception of divided anesthesia care and its influence on patient satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: We assessed patient satisfaction with divided anesthesia care in a district general hospital in Switzerland. We hypothesized that patient expectations, combined with their perceptions of the (un)importance of continuous anesthesia care would influence patient satisfaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 484 eligible in-patients receiving anesthesia from October 2019 to February 2020 were included and received preoperative information about divided care via a brochure and face-to-face. The primary outcome was the assessment of patient satisfaction with divided anesthesia care using a validated questionnaire. In group 1 continuity of care was considered important but not performed. In group 2 continuity was ensured. In group 3 continuity was regarded as not important and was not performed. In group 4 patients could not remember or did not answer. A psychometrically developed validated questionnaire was sent to patients at home after discharge. RESULTS: A total of 484 completed questionnaires (response rate 81%) were analyzed. In group 1 (n = 110) the mean total dissatisfaction score was 25% (95% confidence interval [CI] 21.8-28.1), in group 2 (n = 61) 6.8% (95% CI 4.8-8.7), in group 3 (n = 223) 12.1% (95% CI 10.7-13.4), and in group 4 (n = 90) 15% (95% CI 11-18); ANOVA: p < 0.001, η = 0.43. Of the patients 286 (59%) considered continuity of care by the same anesthetist relatively unimportant (34%) or not important at all (25%). The other 40% considered it important (22%) or very important (18%). CONCLUSION: Despite receiving comprehensive preoperative information about divided anesthesia care, 40% of patients still considered continuity of care by the same anesthetist important. We recommend further research evaluating whether and how patient expectations can be modified towards the common practice of divided care and patient satisfaction can be increased.
BACKGROUND: Up to now, no prospective cohort study using a validated questionnaire has assessed patients' expectation and perception of divided anesthesia care and its influence on patient satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: We assessed patient satisfaction with divided anesthesia care in a district general hospital in Switzerland. We hypothesized that patient expectations, combined with their perceptions of the (un)importance of continuous anesthesia care would influence patient satisfaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 484 eligible in-patients receiving anesthesia from October 2019 to February 2020 were included and received preoperative information about divided care via a brochure and face-to-face. The primary outcome was the assessment of patient satisfaction with divided anesthesia care using a validated questionnaire. In group 1 continuity of care was considered important but not performed. In group 2 continuity was ensured. In group 3 continuity was regarded as not important and was not performed. In group 4 patients could not remember or did not answer. A psychometrically developed validated questionnaire was sent to patients at home after discharge. RESULTS: A total of 484 completed questionnaires (response rate 81%) were analyzed. In group 1 (n = 110) the mean total dissatisfaction score was 25% (95% confidence interval [CI] 21.8-28.1), in group 2 (n = 61) 6.8% (95% CI 4.8-8.7), in group 3 (n = 223) 12.1% (95% CI 10.7-13.4), and in group 4 (n = 90) 15% (95% CI 11-18); ANOVA: p < 0.001, η = 0.43. Of the patients 286 (59%) considered continuity of care by the same anesthetist relatively unimportant (34%) or not important at all (25%). The other 40% considered it important (22%) or very important (18%). CONCLUSION: Despite receiving comprehensive preoperative information about divided anesthesia care, 40% of patients still considered continuity of care by the same anesthetist important. We recommend further research evaluating whether and how patient expectations can be modified towards the common practice of divided care and patient satisfaction can be increased.
Authors: Sarah F Barnett; Ravi K Alagar; Michael P W Grocott; Savvas Giannaris; John R Dick; Suneetha Ramani Moonesinghe Journal: Anesthesiology Date: 2013-08 Impact factor: 7.892