Patient satisfaction in the cervical spine research society outcomes study: relationship to improved clinical outcome.
BACKGROUND
Satisfaction is a key indicator of how health care has met patient expectations.


OBJECTIVE
To examine relationship between clinical and functional outcome and patient satisfaction.


METHODS
Prospective analysis of outcomes.


METHODS
A total of 428 patients undergoing cervical spine surgery consecutively enrolled at 23 nationwide sites.


METHODS
Cervical Spine Outcomes Questionnaire (CSOQ).


METHODS
We used the CSOQ to evaluate 428 patients undergoing cervical spine surgery at 23 nationwide sites. Satisfaction was assessed at 3 months by self-report. Clinical improvement was defined at 3 months as decreased postoperative CSOQ domain scores. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to demonstrate adherence of the CSOQ to domains of clinical and functional recovery and to identify items measuring patient satisfaction. Psychometric properties of items measuring patient satisfaction were examined. The association between patient satisfaction and 3 month clinical and functional outcome was tested.


RESULTS
On repeat administration in a subset of 50 patients, these four items demonstrated good test-retest reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.784). PCA extracted factors adhering to the domain structure of the CSOQ. A unique factor was characterized by the following: recommend to friend (loading=0.658), compare favorably with others (loading=0.525) and with expectations (loading=0.701), and show overall satisfaction (loading=0.513). Structural equation models revealed influence of CSOQ domain scores and socioeconomic status on patient satisfaction. All reported comparisons were significant at p<.001.


CONCLUSIONS
Satisfaction is unobservable, but can be assessed through self-report. Clinical improvement, especially in neck pain, after surgery is associated with improved patient satisfaction.
Skolasky
Richard L
RL
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224-2780, USA.
Albert
Todd J
TJ
Vaccaro
Alexander R
AR
Riley
Lee H
LH
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000601:surgery; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires