Impact of Telephone Follow-Up on Patient Satisfaction in a Pediatric Neurosurgery Clinic

Abstract

Patient satisfaction is a key metric used to measure quality in health care. However, patient satisfaction measures in the pediatric population are less studied and understood than in the adult population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of telephone follow-up on patient satisfaction in an outpatient pediatric neurosurgery clinic. A standardized telephone follow-up call was performed within 1 week of a child’s clinic visit. Pearson’s χ2 or Fisher’s exact tests were used to assess changes in patient satisfaction measures after implementation of the telephone follow-up call initiative. The proportion of overall “top-box” physician rating significantly increased from 85.5% in 2017 to 95.6% in 2018 ( P = .04). There was also a nonsignificant upward trend in the proportion of respondents noting that they would recommend this provider, as well as in all measures of physician communication quality and office staff quality. A simple telephone call to new patients after an outpatient pediatric neurosurgery clinic visit resulted in statistically significant and clinically meaningful changes in patient satisfaction scores.

Developing the pediatric surgery patient satisfaction scale and assessment of its validity and reliability

“…Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of the quality and efficiency of health services and it is also one of the most important factors that determine success of a health institution (Manzoor et al, 2019). However, measurements of patient satisfaction in pediatric population have been less studied and understood compared to adult population (Blanco et al, 2020). With regard to this, it is necessary to determine the factors that affect patient satisfaction, expectations, and quality of care, especially in pediatric patients (Espinel et al, 2014).…”

Follow-up Plan as a Necessity for Nursing Care: A Decrease of Stress in Mothers with their Children in Pediatric Surgical Units

“…13 No matter how we follow up the patient’s treatment, such low-cost and convenient methods as leading the patient to the care-giving centers, home visits by the care providers, and use of telecommunication media are preferred. 14 Meanwhile, managing the outcomes of surgical procedures is a necessity. In a retrospective cohort study on healthy patients aged 0-18 years, it was reported that more than one-half of the patients needed consultation after surgery.…”