Patient satisfaction with the Black Dog Institute Depression Clinic.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper is to report on patient satisfaction with the Black Dog Institute Depression Clinic, a tertiary referral service providing assessment and treatment advice to patients with mood disorders.


METHODS
Patients who attended the Depression Clinic over the period 2006-2007 received questionnaires in the mail assessing satisfaction with the services received. Of the 321 patients attending, 114 (35%) replied. Results from 110 patients were subsequently analysed.


RESULTS
Overall, patients were very satisfied with the services received. However, a number of priority areas were identified including provision of information about diagnosis, causal factors and treatment options; managing patient expectations about services offered; the need for improvement of communication between patient and psychiatrist; and the need for adequate de-briefing for those who receive an unexpected or differing diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient satisfaction is a central component in shaping clinical service development to ensure delivery of effective health care. Findings from this study have implications for the improved delivery of psychiatric services.
Fletcher
Kathryn
K
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. k.fletcher@unsw.edu.au
Parker
Gordon
G
Tully
Lucy
L
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care