Patient satisfaction and postoperative demands on hospital and community services after day surgery

Abstract

This study presents the outcome of a survey of patients satisfaction following day surgery and an assessment of the level of contact between patients and community services within the first 48 h after discharge from a day-surgery unit. A total of 953 patients were provided with a self-completion questionnaire after day surgery; replies were received from 557 (58.4 per cent). Areas investigated regarding overall satisfaction were outpatient services, admission procedure, day-surgery services, preoperative and postoperative information, and postoperative pain relief. The incidence of contact with the hospital or community services in the 48 h after operation was also recorded. Overall satisfaction following day surgery was very high. Only 2.5 per cent of respondents reported that they had needed to contact the hospital within 24 h of discharge. Contact with community services in the 48 h after operation was minimal. Only 4.3 per cent consulted their general practitioner and 1.4 per cent a district nurse. For the small number of patients who did contact the hospital or their general practitioner, the most frequent reason was a problem with pain management.

Psychological preparation for patients undergoing day surgery

“…Firstly, issues concerning patient expectations. A large number of studies highlight the public's general satisfaction with, and preference for, day surgery (Clyne and Jamieson 1978, Jamison et al 1987, Harju 1991, O`Connor et al 1991, Buttery et al 1993, Fenton-Lee et al 1994, Ghosh and Sallam 1994, Gupta et al 1994, Sigurdardottir 1996, Lawrence et al 1997, Pollock and Trendholm 1997, Bhattacharya et al 1998, Willsher et al 1998. However, some aspects within day surgery were not always expected.…”

“…Also, Nkyekyer (1996) reported 34% of patients found the wait prior to surgery too long and O'Connor et al (1991) also reported 11% found the wait too long. As a consequence both Ghosh and Sallam (1994) and Otte (1996) recommended staggered admission times on the day of surgery. Male (1981) and Wicklin and Forster (1994) concluded female patients together with patients undergoing local anaesthesia to be more anxious.…”

“…pain, nausea and vomiting. Ghosh and Sallam (1994) reported one of the main sources of dissatisfaction in the post-operative period to be inadequate pain relief and in audits by Clyne and Jamieson (1978) and Birch and Miller (1994), 50% of patients experienced pain while at home. Firth (1991), although utilising a short questionnaire within the audit process, discovered 25% of patients were awake and in pain during their first post-operative night.…”

Pilot study of a novel pain management strategy: evaluating the impact on patient outcomes

“…Pain control also has great financial implications. Uncontrolled pain is a main reason for delayed discharge and unanticipated readmission [7,8]. As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's Hospital Readmissions Reductions Program, Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) results link patient outcomes and satisfaction to reimbursement, pain management is increasingly important [9][10][11].…”

Which anaesthetic agents are cost-effective in day surgery? Literature review, national survey of practice and randomised controlled trial

“…There are a number of descriptive studies, surveys and audits of satisfaction in day patients. 19,168,172,178,180,181,183,196 Telephone surveys to look at patient satisfaction with day-surgery services have also been carried out. 185 Clinical audits are common in day-case practice to assess patient satisfaction with overall services and consider improvements.…”