Satisfaction with care in vascular surgery inpatient units

Abstract Objective: to identify and solve problems concerning satisfaction of inpatients in three different vascular surgery units. Materials and Methods: a self-administered non anonymous questionnaire was submitted. Four dimensions of patients' satisfaction and a measure of overall satisfaction were evaluated. For each of them a logistic regression model was elaborated. Results: one hundred and fifty-six eligible patients agreed to participate. For the “overall satisfaction” 56% rated the care received as excellent; patients completely satisfied for “treatment and related information” were 76%; for the “availability of staff” 96%, for “helpfulness and communication by staff” 56% and for “management of patient's complaint by medical staff” 86%. Logistic regression analysis showed, after adjustment for relevant background factors, a statistically significant difference among units of care for the overall satisfaction. Conclusions: the study highlighted the importance of considering in vascular units the patients' satisfaction as an essential component of quality of care independently of the severity of cases. The hospital management recognised the low level of communication by the staff as one of the hospital bottle-necks and tried to solve a logistic problem identified as responsible for a low score in the overall satisfaction in one unit. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 25, 48–52 (2003)