title: Long-term patient satisfaction of gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We prospectively assessed patient satisfaction in a Greek Academic endoscopy facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive outpatients filled a satisfaction questionnaire right after their endoscopy (D1), 3 days (D3) and 3 months (M3) later. Overall patient satisfaction was measured by their willingness to repeat endoscopy in our facility and to further recommend it. Participant satisfaction regarding pre-procedural, procedural and post-procedural issues was measured using a five-step Likert scale in 19 items with 4 and 5 scores indicating favorable responses. Pareto analysis was used to determine service issues requiring improvement. Late adverse events were recorded at D3 and M3 assessments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over six months, 501 patients participated (89.4% and 87.8% response rate at D3 and M3 assessments, respectively). More than 97% of the participants would repeat the procedure in our facility and would recommend our endoscopy service, at all three assessments. Pareto analysis identified waiting time until the appointment and on the day of the examination, discomfort during and after the endoscopy, time to obtain the pathology report and overall management of the patient problems as the issues requiring improvement. No predictor of high satisfaction score has been identified. No serious late adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the overall high levels of patient satisfaction, management of patient discomfort and organizational issues need improvement.
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Triantafyllou
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Paraskevas
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gkolfakis
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Triantafyllou
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Xhoela
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ndini
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melissaratou
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Giannis-Aimant
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Moustafa
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Xanthopoulou
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tziatzios
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vlachonikolou
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evdoxos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pantelakis
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Chrysoula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malli
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Dimitriadis
keywords: Colonoscopy; endoscopy; gastroscopy; patient; satisfaction