title: A comparison of patient satisfaction with conventional and nurse led outpatient follow-up after grommet insertion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The need to reduce costs while providing a first class service has led to the expansion in the role of nurses in otolaryngology practice in the National Health Service (NHS) in recent years. The aim of this study was to compare patient satisfaction with conventional and nurse led follow-up after grommet insertion. The hypothesis was that patient satisfaction is much greater with doctor led conventional follow-up as compared with nurse led out-patient follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed using a questionnaire survey using a validated patient satisfaction questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicate that there is no statistically significant difference in the mean factorial scores for interpersonal skills and technical competence, physical surroundings, and convenience between the conventional and nurse led follow-up clinic. The overall patient satisfaction was higher with nurse led grommet follow-up clinic than with conventional doctor led out-patient follow-up. This was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U = 1357.50, Z = 02.39, P = 0.01). The waiting time in out-patients was also significantly less in the nurse led grommet clinic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that nurses provide a high quality service resulting in high patient satisfaction. Nurse led grommet follow-up clinic has the potential for substantial reduction in outpatient access times in the NHS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, York Hospital, Wigginton Road, York YO31 8HE, UK. uppalsandeep@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uppal
authors.forename: Carline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mateusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mielcarek
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coatesworth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000379:methods; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000601:surgery*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome