Postoperative Patient Satisfaction With Anaesthesia Care
Postoperative Patient Satisfaction With Anaesthesia Care
Background. 'Continuity of personal care by anaesthetist', as defined by a single anaesthetist providing preoperative evaluation, performing anaesthesia, and delivering a postoperative visit to the patient, has been shown to be a major factor for patient satisfaction with anaesthesia care. This prospective randomized study investigated whether a single postoperative visit increased the patient's perception of 'Continuity of personal care by anaesthetist' and hence satisfaction.
Methods. In Group 1, the same anaesthetist who conducted anaesthesia visited the patient on the first postoperative day. In Group 2, a nurse anaesthetist who did not participate in anaesthesia delivery made a postoperative visit to the patient. Patients in Group 3 were not visited. Patients received a previously validated questionnaire after discharge from hospital.
Results. The negative patient response created by the perception of not being visited after operation by the attending anaesthetist was 13.5% (95% CI ±6.9), 69.2% (95% CI ±10.3), and 77.1% (95% CI ±9.1) in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with 1 vs 2 and 1 vs 3 (P<0.001) being significantly different. The negative patient response for 'Continuity of personal care by anaesthetist' was 40.0% (95% CI ±5.3), 48.8% (95% CI ±5.6), and 55.5% (95% CI ±5.3) in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with 1 vs 3 (P<0.001) being significantly different.
Conclusions. Perception of the anaesthetist and satisfaction with 'Continuity of personal care by anaesthetist' were significantly increased by the introduction of a single postoperative visit by the anaesthetist compared with no visit at all. Overall satisfaction with anaesthesia was unchanged.
Information and personal care by the anaesthetist or the anaesthetic team were shown to be the most important factors for patient satisfaction with anaesthesia care.
Psychometrically evaluated high-quality questionnaires are a commonly used instrument to study anaesthesia-related patient satisfaction. Our hospital participated in two of these studies. After the establishment of a preoperative anaesthesia clinic at our hospital in the year 2000, patient perception of the quality of preoperative information about anaesthesia improved significantly. However, at the same time, patients reported a growing lack of continuity of care by the anaesthetist. 'Continuity of personal care by the anaesthetist' was defined by the presence or, more precisely, the perceived presence of a single anaesthetist who provided preoperative evaluation and anaesthesia care and who made one postoperative visit to the patient.
This study was undertaken to assess whether a single postoperative visit by the same anaesthetist who previously delivered anaesthesia increased the patient's perception of 'Continuity of personal care by anaesthetist' and hence satisfaction. We also examined whether a postoperative visit by a nurse anaesthetist would result in a similar perceived continuity of personal care. As additional aspects, we addressed the correct identification of the person who visited after operation and evaluation of the importance of a postoperative visit for the patient.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Background. 'Continuity of personal care by anaesthetist', as defined by a single anaesthetist providing preoperative evaluation, performing anaesthesia, and delivering a postoperative visit to the patient, has been shown to be a major factor for patient satisfaction with anaesthesia care. This prospective randomized study investigated whether a single postoperative visit increased the patient's perception of 'Continuity of personal care by anaesthetist' and hence satisfaction.
Methods. In Group 1, the same anaesthetist who conducted anaesthesia visited the patient on the first postoperative day. In Group 2, a nurse anaesthetist who did not participate in anaesthesia delivery made a postoperative visit to the patient. Patients in Group 3 were not visited. Patients received a previously validated questionnaire after discharge from hospital.
Results. The negative patient response created by the perception of not being visited after operation by the attending anaesthetist was 13.5% (95% CI ±6.9), 69.2% (95% CI ±10.3), and 77.1% (95% CI ±9.1) in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with 1 vs 2 and 1 vs 3 (P<0.001) being significantly different. The negative patient response for 'Continuity of personal care by anaesthetist' was 40.0% (95% CI ±5.3), 48.8% (95% CI ±5.6), and 55.5% (95% CI ±5.3) in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with 1 vs 3 (P<0.001) being significantly different.
Conclusions. Perception of the anaesthetist and satisfaction with 'Continuity of personal care by anaesthetist' were significantly increased by the introduction of a single postoperative visit by the anaesthetist compared with no visit at all. Overall satisfaction with anaesthesia was unchanged.
Introduction
Information and personal care by the anaesthetist or the anaesthetic team were shown to be the most important factors for patient satisfaction with anaesthesia care.
Psychometrically evaluated high-quality questionnaires are a commonly used instrument to study anaesthesia-related patient satisfaction. Our hospital participated in two of these studies. After the establishment of a preoperative anaesthesia clinic at our hospital in the year 2000, patient perception of the quality of preoperative information about anaesthesia improved significantly. However, at the same time, patients reported a growing lack of continuity of care by the anaesthetist. 'Continuity of personal care by the anaesthetist' was defined by the presence or, more precisely, the perceived presence of a single anaesthetist who provided preoperative evaluation and anaesthesia care and who made one postoperative visit to the patient.
This study was undertaken to assess whether a single postoperative visit by the same anaesthetist who previously delivered anaesthesia increased the patient's perception of 'Continuity of personal care by anaesthetist' and hence satisfaction. We also examined whether a postoperative visit by a nurse anaesthetist would result in a similar perceived continuity of personal care. As additional aspects, we addressed the correct identification of the person who visited after operation and evaluation of the importance of a postoperative visit for the patient.