Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate if information campaigns and introduction of information leaflets lead to an improvement in patient satisfaction with anesthesia care.
Methods
In 2000, we carried out an assessment of patient satisfaction with anesthesia care. “Information/involvement in decision making” was identified as the worst problem area. The three hospitals involved in this study introduced strategies to improve this dimension of patient satisfaction by launching information campaigns, producing or improving information brochures (particularly in hospitals A and C), and by expanding the preanesthetic care unit (hospital B). In 2002, a second survey was carried out. Each of the hospitals sent questionnaires to 600 elective surgery patients after discharge. We compared the total problem scores (the percentage of patients who responded that a problem was present) and the problem scores for the dimension ‘information/involvement in decision making’ between 2000 and 2002.
Results
The total problem score (mean in %, 95% confidence interval) for all three hospitals together remained unchanged [19% (1)], as well as the problem scores for each hospital [hospital A 16% (1), hospital B 21% (1), hospital C 20% (1)]. The problem score for ‘information/involvement in decision making’ remained unchanged also: 31% (29–33) in 2000 compared to 28% (26–30) in 2002.
Conclusion
Information campaigns and the introduction of information leaflets alone do not improve patient satisfaction with anesthesia care.
Résumé
Objectif
Évaluer si les campagnes et les brochures d’information améliorent la satisfaction des patients face à l’anesthésie. Méthode : En 2000, nous avons procédé à l’évaluation de la satisfaction des patients face à l’anesthésie. «L’information/l’implication dans la prise de décision» a été désignée comme la composante critique du problème. Dans le but d’augmenter la satisfaction des patients, les trois hôpitaux concernés par l’étude ont lancé des campagnes d’information, produit ou amélioré des brochures d’information (surtout dans les hôpitaux A et C) ou agrandi l’unité de soins préanesthésiques (hôpital B). En 2002, une seconde enquête a été menée. Chacun des hôpitaux a posté des questionnaires à 600 patients de chirurgie réglée en convalescence. Nous avons comparé les scores du problème global (le pourcentage de patients qui répondaient qu’un problème était présent) et les scores de problème pour l’aspect «information/implication dans la prise de décision» entre 2000 et 2002.
Résultats
Le problème global (moyenne en %, intervalle de confiance de 95 %) est demeuré inchangé pour l’ensemble des trois hôpitaux [19% (1)], de même que pour chaque hôpital [hôpital A 16% (1), hôpital B 21 % (1), hôpital C 20 % (1)]. Le score concernant «l’information/l’implication dans la prise de décision» n’a pas changé non plus : 31 % (29– 33) en 2000, comparé à 28 % (26– 30) en 2002.
Conclusion
Les campagnes d’information et l’introduction de brochures d’information seules n’améliorent pas la satisfaction des patients face à l’anesthésie.
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This study was supported by the Department of Anaesthesiology, and the Quality Committee, St. Gallen, Cantonal Hospital, Switzerland
Fresenius, Gerot and Novartis, Austria; and the Picker Institut, Zug, Switzerland.
Declaration of interest: Y. Husemann is the director of the Picker Institut in Switzerland, which partly funded this study.
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Heidegger, T., Nuebling, M., Germann, R. et al. Patient satisfaction with anesthesia care: information alone does not lead to improvement. Can J Anesth 51, 801–805 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03018452
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03018452