OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess patient satisfaction with the geriatric services of a district general hospital and to examine whether there was a difference in satisfaction between patients in hospital and those who had been recently discharged. METHODS: A structured and validated patient satisfaction questionnaire was administered before discharge to hospitalised patients with a mental test score of 8 or more. It was also administered to a group of patients in the community who had been discharged from hospital not more than 72 hours earlier. The questionnaire was designed to assess seven separate areas, and contained 51 statements with which patients were asked to agree or disagree. Statistical analysis was by the Mann-Whitney U test and p < 0.05 was taken as significant. A total of 134 elderly patients (> 72 years) were surveyed over a four-month period. RESULTS: Satisfaction with the hospital geriatric service was high in both groups of patients. However, patient satisfaction differed between the two groups in three areas: interpersonal aspects; access, availability and convenience of the health services; and financial aspects.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess patient satisfaction with the geriatric services of a district general hospital and to examine whether there was a difference in satisfaction between patients in hospital and those who had been recently discharged. METHODS: A structured and validated patient satisfaction questionnaire was administered before discharge to hospitalised patients with a mental test score of 8 or more. It was also administered to a group of patients in the community who had been discharged from hospital not more than 72 hours earlier. The questionnaire was designed to assess seven separate areas, and contained 51 statements with which patients were asked to agree or disagree. Statistical analysis was by the Mann-Whitney U test and p < 0.05 was taken as significant. A total of 134 elderly patients (> 72 years) were surveyed over a four-month period. RESULTS: Satisfaction with the hospital geriatric service was high in both groups of patients. However, patient satisfaction differed between the two groups in three areas: interpersonal aspects; access, availability and convenience of the health services; and financial aspects.