Satisfaction with care in vascular surgery inpatient units.
OBJECTIVE
to identify and solve problems concerning satisfaction of inpatients in three different vascular surgery units.


METHODS
a self-administered non anonymous questionnaire was submitted. Four dimensions of patients' satisfaction and a measure of overall satisfaction were evaluated. For each of them a logistic regression model was elaborated.


RESULTS
one hundred and fifty-six eligible patients agreed to participate. For the "overall satisfaction" 56% rated the care received as excellent; patients completely satisfied for "treatment and related information" were 76%; for the "availability of staff" 96%, for "helpfulness and communication by staff" 56% and for "management of patient's complaint by medical staff" 86%. Logistic regression analysis showed, after adjustment for relevant background factors, a statistically significant difference among units of care for the overall satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
the study highlighted the importance of considering in vascular units the patients' satisfaction as an essential component of quality of care independently of the severity of cases. The hospital management recognised the low level of communication by the staff as one of the hospital bottle-necks and tried to solve a logistic problem identified as responsible for a low score in the overall satisfaction in one unit.
Tabolli
S
S
Lab. Health Services Research and Lab. Epidemiology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Roma (IDI-IRCCS).
Molino
N
N
Abeni
D
D
Sampogna
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000534:rehabilitation*