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Do patients expect too much from extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy?
Nadine Quatan1, Chris Kouriefs, Anna Larking
1Department of Urology, St Helier Hospital, Carshalton, Surrey, UK.
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
|November 25, 2003
Summary
Patient satisfaction with lithotripsy is high, but dissatisfaction with stone clearance suggests unrealistic expectations. Adjusting patient communication improved the overall treatment experience.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Patient-centered care
Background:
- Patient-focused care emphasizes treatment acceptability alongside efficacy.
- Previous studies confirmed favorable stone clearance rates with lithotripsy.
- Limited research existed on patient perceptions of the lithotripsy experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess patient perceptions of lithotripsy treatment.
- To identify areas for improvement in patient experience.
Main Methods:
- A postal survey was administered to all lithotripsy unit patients over one year.
- Patient opinions on all treatment aspects were collected.
- Survey responses were converted to a numerical score for analysis.
Main Results:
- Patients generally reported satisfaction with lithotripsy.
- Dissatisfaction was highest regarding stone clearance rates.
- Analysis indicated potentially unrealistic patient expectations.
Conclusions:
- A simple, cost-effective survey yielded valuable data.
- Practice adjustments were made to better manage patient expectations regarding success likelihood.
- The findings can enhance the overall patient experience in lithotripsy.