What nursing home residents value in their doctors

Patient satisfaction is influenced by multiple factors, and different populations are expected to define satisfaction in terms of their novel perspectives. Despite growing interest in patient satisfaction, an extensive literature search reveals no studies of nursing home residents' satisfaction with respect to medical care. In an initial qualitative study using transcripts of interviews conducted as part of a state quality control mandate, categories are identified that make up this population's construct of satisfaction and dissatisfaction. These categories serve as building blocks for designing future studies investigating these issues and allowing for comparison of nursing home residents' ideas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction to other older patients, including those in an outpatient geriatric setting.