[Patient satisfaction with surgery in a municipal major out-patient surgery program]

Our objective was to know rate of general and specific satisfaction of patients going through major out-patient surgery (MOPS), to determine the relationship between satisfaction and sociodemographic variables, and to ascertain the influence that MOPS can exert on certain facets of the care relationship, user valoration of health services, and out-patient method characteristics. SITE: Primary-care polyclinic and secondary-care municipal hospital.

We conducted a descriptive, qualitative transversal study by means of anonymous questionnaires answered by out-patients at home.

The questionnaires, considered due to its credible and valid characteristics, was applied by drained personnel to 83 persons by simple random sanepling to the forget population. The majority of out-patients stated that they were very (51.81%) or quite (31.12%) satisfied with the method, independently of age, sex, place of origin, educational lave, and occupation. A statistical relationship was found between general satisfaction and the occurrence of postoperative complications, the possibility given to the patient of choosing between in- and out-patient surgery, and specific satisfaction with medical care received at he hospital and at home. These and then results are discussed and compared whit experiences in other fields. In conclusion, patients expressed satisfaction with the MOPS program linked with primary health care (PHC), although they stated that some aspects of MOPS should be improved.