title: [Evaluation of customer satisfaction with the hospital catering system in the city of Palermo (Italy)].
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate patients' customer satisfaction with the hospital catering services of two public hospitals and one private sector hospital in the city of Palermo (Italy). A multiple choice questionnaire was administered by face-to-face interview to 207 of 227 hospitalized patients. Positive responses regarding the perceived quality of food were given especially by patients of the private sector hospital, 80% of which reported being satisfied with the catering service. A higher percentage of patients in the private sector hospital were satisfied with the food distribution modalities with respect to the two public hospitals. Only 3% of patients in the private sector hospital required their families to bring food from home, with respect to 7.9% and 30% respectively in the two public hospitals. Private sector patients also reported appreciating the wide availability of food and the help given by health care workers (79% vs a mean of 55% in the two public hospitals). No differences were found amongst hospitals with regards to the hygienic characteristics of meals. The results of this study indicate the need to make changes in the management of the catering service of one of the involved public hospitals especially.
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva - Università degli Studi di Palermo.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firenze
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morici
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calamus
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gelsomino
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aprea
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Benedetto
authors.forename: Muana A Luila
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Muangala
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Centineo
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Romano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D005521:Food Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires