Patient satisfaction with burn care 1-6 years after injury

Patient satisfaction is an important outcome in health care but has not been studied in relation to burn care. The aim was to explore factors related to satisfaction with care 1-6 years after a burn. Participants were 86 adult burn patients, injured on average 3.6 years previously. The Patient Satisfaction-Results and Quality (PS-RESKVA) was used to assess satisfaction. It has four subscales: Quality of contact with the nursing staff (QCN), Quality of contact with the medical staff (QCM), Adequate treatment information (INF) and Global satisfaction with treatment (GS). Further, data were gathered regarding personality traits and health. Average scores for QCN were significantly higher than scores for the other subscales, and INF received the lowest mean score. In multiple regressions, the PS-RESKVA subscales were associated with better interpersonal relationships (all PS-RESKVA subscales), more sensation seeking (QCM, INF, and GS) and less aggressiveness (QCM and GS). Other variables contributed to a lesser degree. Total amount of explained variance ranged between 18% and 25% for the PS-RESKVA subscales. In summary, satisfaction with burn care was only moderately explained by health and personality characteristics. Further, former patients rated satisfaction with nursing staff higher than other aspects of care, especially information routines.