title: Walking Clinic in ambulatory surgery--A patient based concept: A Portuguese pioneer project.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Walking Clinic is an innovative, efficient and easily reproducible concept adapted to ambulatory surgery. It consists of a preoperative single day work-up, with a surgeon, an anesthetist and a nurse. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient satisfaction and its determinants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was applied to 171 patients (101 of the Walking Clinic group and 70 not engaged in this new concept). Patient satisfaction was assessed evaluating five major questionnaire items: secretariat (quality of the information and support given), physical space (overall comfort and cleanliness), nurses and medical staff (willingness and expertise), and patients (waiting time until pre-operative consults and exams, waiting time until being scheduled for surgery, surgery day waiting time and postoperative pain control). Furthermore, overall assessment of the received treatment, and probability of patient recommending or returning to our ambulatory unit were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Walking Clinic group had overall better results in the five major questionnaire items assessed, with statistical significance, except for the physical space. It also showed better results regarding the sub-items postoperative pain control, waiting time until being scheduled for surgery and surgery day waiting time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirm better patient satisfaction with this new concept.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Walking Clinic concept complements all the tenets of ambulatory surgery, in a more efficient manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Rua Dr. Eduardo Torres, Senhora da Hora, 4464-513 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: anavinagreiro@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vinagreiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Rua Dr. Eduardo Torres, Senhora da Hora, 4464-513 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Rua Dr. Eduardo Torres, Senhora da Hora, 4464-513 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: School of Technology and Management of Águeda, University of Aveiro, Apartado 473, 3754-909 Águeda, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Rua Dr. Eduardo Torres, Senhora da Hora, 4464-513 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gouveia
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Rua Dr. Eduardo Torres, Senhora da Hora, 4464-513 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guerreiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011174:Portugal; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013531:Surgicenters / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Ambulatory surgery; Patient satisfaction surveys; Walking clinic