The impact of diagnosis-specific discharge instructions on patient satisfaction

The patient satisfaction score is an important index of quality improvement in health care organizations. The satisfaction score may reflect the quality of patient care and patients' safety and loyalty. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in mean patient satisfaction scores before and after diagnosis-specific discharge instructions were implemented in three outpatient units (Ambulatory Surgery, Endoscopy, Main Surgery) at an urban acute care hospital. Patients (N = 1171) were contacted by a survey company the first week after surgery. Satisfaction summary reports were obtained from the hospital nursing administration. Results of this preliminary study indicate that diagnosis-specific discharge instructions have positive effects on patient satisfaction scores.