Patient satisfaction with care in office-based oncology practices

The purpose of patient surveys is to measure the quality of health care from the patient's point of view. They are recommended as a way to detect the strengths and weaknesses of patient care and to locate areas of potential improvement.

In the autumn of 2006, patients undergoing care in subspecialty oncology practices across Germany were given a questionnaire to be answered in writing. A total of 15 272 patients participated (response rate, 68.8%). The questionnaire addressed patient satisfaction with practice staff and organization as well as with the treating physicians themselves.

The practices, their staffs, and the doctors were generally rated at least "good" in all aspects of patient care. Less highly rated aspects of practice organization, despite overall satisfaction, were waiting times and accessibility in emergencies. Appointment scheduling was considered good. Patients were particularly satisfied with the time their doctors devoted to them, but less satisfied with their advice about "alternative" treatments. The doctors involved them in the treatment process to differing extents and gave a variable degree of psychosocial care.

The questionnaires documented high overall satisfaction with oncology practices with little variation among the individual items. There were a few specific areas that accounted for the differences between well and poorly rated practices and physicians; in these areas, there is a potential for improvement.