Patient satisfaction among day surgery patients in a central hospital.
Satisfaction among patients treated one year before day surgery in a central hospital was studied by questionnaires, sent to 100 and returned by 70 patients. The satisfaction before surgery was positive in 74% and negative in 6% of the patients. Based on their experiences from surgery, patients satisfaction improved in 59%, and did not decline. The preferred waiting times to the out-patients examination and also between this and the operation day was 8-10 weeks. Except for patients unable to work (mostly orthopedic patients) very short waiting times were difficult. Hospital arrangements during the treatment day (before, during and after the operation) were considered very good by 56 to 62%, good by 31-40%, satisfactory by 1-6%, and weak by 0-1% of the patients. In all, 96% of the patients would be ready to return to day surgery. The two patients who would refuse had difficulties at discharge. Thus day surgery has had a positive effect on surgical patient satisfaction. The most important improvement was increased surgical availability. In order to improve satisfaction further, patients unable to work as a result of their surgical problem should be treated almost immediately.
Harju
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Department of Surgery, Central Hospital, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014850:Waiting Lists