[Evaluation of inpatient satisfaction. Comparison of different survey methods]

To assess the impact of patient satisfaction survey method on response rate, data quality and satisfaction.

Four modes of data collection were assessed during a randomized trial that included 400 inpatients discharged from a teaching hospital.

The response rate was 58% within the mail survey group (72% with follow-up letter) versus 73% and 81% within the home and telephone interview group (p < 0.01). 69% of the mailed questionnaires contained no missing values versus 94% and 96% for home and telephone interview modes (p < 0.01). The global satisfaction scale score was greater within the mail survey groups (8.1/10 without follow-up letter and 7.9 with follow-up letter) than within the telephone interview group (7.8) and the face to face interview group (7.3), (p < 0.05).

Mail survey with follow-up letter constitutes an operational method despite lower data quality and overestimation of patients' satisfaction scores.