title: Survey of short-term patient satisfaction after surgery for obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the level of satisfaction of patients who received surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient satisfaction survey (PSS) was administered three months after surgery to 76 patients who received either a uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) alone, or in combination with a septomeatoplasty (SMP), or a midline laser glossectomy (MLG). Patient satisfaction determinants were also explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, 93.4% of patients rated their overall satisfaction as "excellent" or "very good". High satisfaction levels (excellent + very good >/= 90%) were observed in the dimensions of "professional skill", "personal manner", and "explanation of condition". By contrast, lower satisfaction levels (excellent + very good< 90 %) were observed for "perioperative discomfort". There were no significant differences among the UPPP alone, UPPP + SMP, and UPPP +MLG groups for any dimension of satisfaction (p> 0.05). Older patients had decreased overall levels of satisfaction (adjust R (2) = 0.1, p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preliminary results reveal a high overall level of satisfaction after surgery for OSA in this short-term survey. However, modest satisfaction with perioperative discomfort was also noted. Combined nasal or tongue base surgeries can be performed with patient satisfaction comparative to that of UPPP alone. Age may confound satisfaction levels in patients receiving OSA surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Han-Ren
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Pa-Chun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-Nuan
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Li-Ang
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ning-Hung
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tuan-Jen
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Hsueh-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*