Patient satisfaction with anaesthesia - Part 1: Satisfaction as part of outcome - and what satisfies patients

Abstract

Summary Patients’ involvement in all decision processes is becoming increasingly important in modern healthcare. Patient satisfaction is a sensitive measure of a well‐functioning health service system. The objective of this review is to discuss patient satisfaction as part of outcome quality, to define the somewhat abstract term ‘satisfaction’, and to discuss the role of surrogate markers within the field of satisfaction with anaesthesia care. We critically discuss what is relevant to satisfy patients with anaesthesia care, and we provide guidance on improving satisfaction.

The importance of postoperative quality of recovery: influences, assessment, and clinical and prognostic implications

“…13 When compared with traditional quality indicators, satisfaction has been shown to correlate with large hospitals, high surgical volumes, and a low mortality index (P \ 0.001) but not with other process indicators or patient outcomes (length of stay, complications (P = 0.491), and readmission (P = 0.056). 9,10 It is heavily influenced by culture and institution and has a stronger correlation with patient expectations, subsequent patient experience, strong therapeutic relationships, 14,15 work activity, and procedural outcome rather than with professionalism or anesthetic outcome. 16,17 The discriminate utility of satisfaction as an indirect measure of quality of recovery is also limited by its lack of a uniform definition or assessment tool, rapid early recovery, 18,19 and an inconsistent relationship with traditional recovery markers (nociceptive complications).…”

Patient satisfaction and quality of recovery

“…Can patient satisfaction really be seen as a 'nonpatient-centred' outcome quality, or is satisfaction the most important subjective factor of patient-centred care [2,3]? Conceptually, even though patient satisfaction is perhaps more difficult to define than quality of recovery, aspects of the concept, such as information, communication, respect and patient care, are known to be among the most important factors of care for patients [3][4][5].…”

“…These patients are not usually seen again before arrival in the theatre complex, and the treating anaesthetist is initially reliant on the explanation given by another anaesthetist, who may no longer be on duty. General Medical Council and Association of Anaesthetists (AAGBI) guidance is clear that the treating doctor is responsible for ensuring that the consent process has been adequate, but, if it has not been adequate, the anaesthetic room is both physically and temporally the wrong place to answer additional questions or add further important information [2,3]. Documentation of anaesthetic consent continues to be brief and may partly be check-box based.…”

Patient Satisfaction - Indicator Anesthesia Assessment

“…Nevertheless, some authors believe that these indicators do not fully reflect the quality of anesthesia and are surrogate [3].At the end of the last century, the most important provisions for patients were identified, such as the availability of medical care, understandable and in an accessible way informing the patient and his loved ones, respect for the patient's values, his preferences and needs, reducing fear and anxiety in the perioperative period, physical comfort, qualitative analgesia, constant care with the attraction of a relative and close friends [4].The aim of this review is to examine the patient's satisfaction as a criterion of the quality of anesthesia. …”

“…At the end of the last century, the most important provisions for patients were identified, such as the availability of medical care, understandable and in an accessible way informing the patient and his loved ones, respect for the patient's values, his preferences and needs, reducing fear and anxiety in the perioperative period, physical comfort, qualitative analgesia, constant care with the attraction of a relative and close friends [4].…”