Contributors to surgical in-patient satisfaction-development and reliability of a targeted instrument

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of healthcare system performance. High patient satisfaction is associated with greater trust in caregivers, improved compliance with treatment recommendations and a better quality of life (QOL). There are few validated instruments to measure surgical patients' satisfaction. The aim of this study was to develop a culturally-specific patient satisfaction instrument, for use as an outcome measure in evaluating surgical services. DESIGN: Patient focus groups were convened to explore dimensions of the peri-operative hospital experience. Forums uncovered pertinent domains of interest and identified terminology understood by patients. A prel..