title: Humanisation in the emergency department of an Italian hospital: new features and patient satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to describe and analyse interventions performed in the emergency department (ED) of an Italian hospital with the aim of humanising the patient care pathway. The actions taken are described and the changes analysed to determine whether they resulted in an increased level of patient satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study was conducted between October 2010 and March 2011. The data were collected via a telephone questionnaire administered to patients who were admitted to the ED before and after humanisation interventions. The respondents were questioned about their general condition and their level of satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population included 297 patients (158 before and 139 after the interventions). The highest overall patient satisfaction after the interventions was highly correlated with the humanisation interventions and not with other factors such as gender, age, educational level or the severity code triage. Specifically, in patients who went to the ED after the changes had been made, there was a greater level of satisfaction regarding comfort in the waiting room, waiting time for the first visit and the privacy experienced during the triage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate that the interventions implemented in this study, designed to humanise the ED, improved overall patient satisfaction. Interventions may be taken to reduce the depersonalisation of patients in the emergency room.
authors: Department of Public Health, School of Specialization in Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Lovato
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Minniti
authors: Marika
authors: M
authors: Giacometti
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Sacco
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Piolatto
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Barberis
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Papalia
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Bert
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Siliquini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014218:Triage / Q000145:classification; D055815:Young Adult