Patients' satisfaction with the nurse-led aural care clinic.
BACKGROUND
The necessity of decreasing costs while maintaining a high standard of clinical care has led to the expansion of the role of nurses in recent years. To this end, nurse-led clinics are becoming increasingly common in otolaryngology. The aims of this cross sectional survey were to assess patients' satisfaction with this nurse-led aural care clinic.


METHODS
Patients attending this clinic were requested to fill in an anonymous questionnaire. Data was collected for 12 weeks between January and April, 2007.


RESULTS
Forty-four questionnaires were completed satisfactorily (44/50 = 88%). In response to the presenting complaint, the nurse gave verbal advice (25), discussed with a doctor (10) or arranged a doctor review (9). Forty patients were very satisfied and 4 patients were satisfied with the overall care in the clinic.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining medical and nursing efforts can provide efficient use of limited time resource in NHS. Nurse-led clinics are cost effective and help reduce the waiting time, for outpatient clinics.
Shakeel
M
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen AB252ZN, Scotland, UK. drshakeel@doctors.org.uk
Newton
J R
JR
Clark
D
D
Hussain
A
A
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires