title: Importance of patient satisfaction with care in predicting osteoarthritis-specific health-related quality of life one year after total joint arthroplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  After previous results observed with a generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument, we aimed to confirm that immediate postoperative patient satisfaction with care predicts self-perceived health 1 year after total hip replacement/total knee replacement (THR/TKR), using an osteoarthritis (OA)-specific HRQoL questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a French multicenter prospective cohort study of patients after THR/TKR. HRQoL was assessed by the OsteoArthritis Knee and Hip Quality Of Life (OAKHQOL) instrument before and after surgery and satisfaction with care by the Quality of Care Scale (QCS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 189 patients were followed up 12 months after discharge (mean age 68.9 SD = 8.5; 41.9% male). After adjustment for relevant variables, patients satisfied with care postoperatively showed greater 1-year postoperative HRQOL than those less satisfied with care. Patients satisfied with medical information had a higher postoperative HRQoL score than patients less satisfied in 3 of 5 OAKHQOL dimensions (P < 0.001 to P = 0.02), and patients satisfied with relationships with staff and daily routine scored higher on all HRQoL dimensions than did less-satisfied patients (all P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These new findings with an OA-specific HRQOL questionnaire confirm that immediate postoperative satisfaction with care after THR/TKR for OA is a good predictor of self-perceived health status 1 year after surgery. Satisfaction with care therefore represents a relevant indicator of patient-reported health and is quickly accessible to clinicians.
authors.affiliation: Nancy-Université, Université Paul Verlaine Metz, Université Paris Descartes, EA 4360 Apemac, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: Anne-Christine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rat
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mainard
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cuny
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guillemin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000601:surgery; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000601:surgery; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016896:Treatment Outcome