Factors influencing patient satisfaction with GI endoscopy.
BACKGROUND
A modified Group Health Association of America-9 survey (mGHAA-9) was recently proposed for measurement of patient satisfaction with endoscopy. It is unknown whether the mGHAA-9 addresses the issues most important to this outcome.


METHODS
A 15-item survey of factors potentially important to patient satisfaction with endoscopy was developed, including the 6 core mGHAA-9 items. Respondents were asked to rank the factors from 1 to 15 (1 = most important to l5 = least important to satisfaction). Two groups were surveyed: (1) patients with prior endoscopy experience and (2) physician endoscopists. Item rank distributions overall and by patient age, gender, and procedure experience were examined.


RESULTS
Of 559 outpatients surveyed, 437 (78%) provided complete responses. The mean patient age was 59 years (48.7% female, 45.3% male, 6% not stated). The number 1 ranked factor was the endoscopist's technical skills (median ranking (mr) = 1), an item included in the mGHAA-9. Pain control, a factor not assessed by the mGHAA-9, was second (mr = 4), and ranked number 1 by 16% of patients. Item rankings were consistent across patient subgroups. Relative to patients, endoscopists underprioritized preprocedure and postprocedure communication.


CONCLUSIONS
The mGHAA-9 has inadequate content validity for measurement of patient satisfaction with endoscopy because it does not assess pain control. However, endoscopy satisfaction measurement with a single, universally applied instrument appears feasible.
Yacavone
R F
RF
Gastroenterology and Hepatology Outcomes Research Unit and Section of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Locke
G R
GR
Gostout
C J
CJ
Rockwood
T H
TH
Thieling
S
S
Zinsmeister
A R
AR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires