Testing a new theory of patient satisfaction with treatment outcome.
OBJECTIVE
Theories of patient satisfaction with treatment outcome have not been developed and tested in healthcare settings. The objectives of this study were to test a new theory linking patient satisfaction and embodiment (body--self unity) and examine it in relation to other competing theories.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective cohort study.


METHODS
This study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
We studied 122 individuals undergoing elective hand surgery.


METHODS
Satisfaction with treatment outcome approximately 4 months after surgery was examined against the following factors (representing 7 theories of satisfaction): 1) overall clinical outcome, 2) patients' a priori self-selected important clinical outcomes, 3) foresight expectations, 4) hindsight expectations, 5) psychologic state, 6) psychologic state in those with poor outcomes, and 7) embodiment.


METHODS
Seven hypotheses were tested first using univariate analyses and then multivariable regression analysis.


RESULTS
Satisfaction with treatment outcome was significantly associated with embodiment. Three confounders--the extent to which surgery successfully addressed patients' most important reason for surgery, hindsight expectations, and workers' compensation--were also significant. The final model explained 84% of the variance in a multidimensional measure of satisfaction with treatment outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
This research suggests that satisfaction with treatment outcome could be facilitated by developing strategies to improve body--self unity, and eliciting and addressing the patient's most important reason for undergoing treatment.
Hudak
Pamela L
PL
St. Michael's Hospital, and Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. hudakp@smh.toronto.on.ca
Hogg-Johnson
Sheilah
S
Bombardier
Claire
C
McKeever
Patricia D
PD
Wright
James G
JG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011594:Psychometrics; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014942:Workers' Compensation