Patient Satisfaction

Paper Summary:

This study aims to identify, from a qualitative perspective, those components of healthcare that are related to patients' perception of quality of care and how these relate to their overall satisfaction. The paper also aims to determine whether a quantitative component is required to complete the analysis in a comprehensive fashion. The paper then reviews relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature to support its conclusions.

Table of Contents:
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Measuring the Dimensions of Patient Satisfaction
Dimensions of Patient Satisfaction
Qualitative versus Quantitative Patient Satisfaction Surveys
Five Characteristics of Effective Quantitative Research
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The bad news is that while qualitative patient satisfaction surveys represent a low-cost and generally effective and efficient method of collecting a great deal of relevant information in a fairly short period of time, the method has its limitations. For instance, Maruish (2004) reports that the return rates for qualitative patient satisfaction surveys that are mailed to healthcare consumers are typically low, in some cases so low as to limit the representativeness of the data that is received. Furthermore, there is no method available to objectify or validate the patients' perceptions of change due to treatment, particularly because the reported degree of change tends to be overstated; patient satisfaction surveys also provide researchers with scant information related to symptomatic change, and the resulting data is not available to help address problems that may occur during the patient's initial treatment (Maruish, 2004)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Auslander, W. F., Dreitzer, D., Santiago, J. V., & Thompson, S. J. (1997). Mother's satisfaction with medical care: Perceptions of racism, family stress, and medical outcomes in children with diabetes. Health and Social Work, 22(3), 190.
• Benz, C. R., & Newman, I. (1998). Qualitative-quantitative research methodology: Exploring the interactive continuum. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press.
• Booth-Butterfield, M., & Wrench, J. S. (2003). Increasing patient satisfaction and compliance: An examination of physician humor orientation, compliance-gaining strategies, and perceived credibility. Communication Quarterly, 51(4), 482.
• Cravens, D. W. (1994). Strategic marketing. Boston, MA: Irwin
• Crowley, E. P. (1994). Using qualitative methods in special education research. Exceptionality, 5(2), 55-67.

More papers on Patient Satisfaction:

• Research Paper # 114654 : "Patient Satisfaction with Outpatient Services"
• Research Paper # 115677 : "Patient Satisfaction Scores"
• Research Paper # 118558 : "Improvement of Patient Satisfaction"

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