Evaluation of patient satisfaction in gastrointestinal endoscopy

Patient satisfaction questionnaires are a useful method for detecting opportunities for improvement on the basis of patient opinion. The aim of this study was to identify by means of a satisfaction questionnaire the main reasons for dissatisfaction in patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Five hundred and thirty-seven patients (age 49+/-15 years, 53% women) who attended a gastrointestinal endoscopy unit were interviewed 3 weeks after undergoing upper endoscopy or colonoscopy, using a previously translated and validated GHAA-9 questionnaire modified for use in gastrointestinal endoscopy. In each case, the overall score median and the percentage of patients who gave negative (poor or fair) appraisals on each of the seven main questions were estimated. These data were used to perform a Pareto analysis.

The overall questionnaire score median was 29 (interquartiles 25 and 75 over 26 and 32, respectively). Negative appraisal percentages for each of the seven questions were: waiting time until the appointment, 9.3%; waiting time on the day of examination, 3.5%; explanations, 3.9%; personal manner of staff, 0.5%; personal manner of the physician, 0.6%; discomfort, 3.5%; overall rating, 1.9%. The vital few found by Pareto analysis were questions regarding waiting time for appointment and adequacy of explanations regarding procedure. These questions accounted for 61% of the total number of problems encountered by patients.

Questionnaires on satisfaction or quality perceived by patients allow the most frequent causes for dissatisfaction to be identified. The main problems patients encountered were waiting time until the appointment and explanations.