Moderators and determinants of satisfaction with diet counseling for patients consuming a therapeutic diet.
OBJECTIVE
To identify moderators and key determinants of patient satisfaction with diet counseling.


METHODS
Survey questionnaire.


METHODS
A French-Canadian acute-care urban hospital.


METHODS
Population of eligible patients hospitalized for a minimum stay of 5 days. Patients excluded from the study were those with notable physical, cognitive, or emotional limitations; those receiving enteral and parenteral nutrition; and those from long-term-care units. Analyses were performed on 49 patients who consumed a therapeutic diet and who received diet counseling during their current hospital stay.


METHODS
Overall satisfaction with diet counseling, compliance intentions, and satisfaction with four components of diet counseling. Measures were taken on seven-point graphic scales and five-point semantic scales.


METHODS
Reliability estimates with Cronbach's alpha correlation coefficient, stepwise multiple regression analyses, t tests, and one-way analyses of variance.


RESULTS
Facilitation skills and knowledge components of diet counseling were the key determinants of patient satisfaction. Among the moderators of patient satisfaction with diet counseling, women and patients with a good appetite were more satisfied with the knowledge components and had stronger compliance intentions. Patients who spent more than 50% of the time at rest were less satisfied than more active patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Enhancing patient satisfaction implies having a good understanding of a patient's social and cultural context, developing problem-solving skills, and demonstrating greater flexibility and creativity about the means of providing diet counseling.
Trudeau
E
E
Nutrition Department, School of Medicine, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Dubé
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003376:Counseling / Q000592:standards; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D004045:Dietary Services / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005521:Food Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011792:Quebec; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors