Patient satisfaction with clinicians in colorectal 2-week wait clinics

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Health Services Research
• Patient Experience

Background:

• The colorectal 2-week wait (2ww) service aims for timely diagnosis and treatment.
• Understanding factors influencing patient satisfaction is crucial for service improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether patient satisfaction differs between nurse-led and doctor-led colorectal 2ww clinics.
• To assess the impact of clinician type on patient perceptions of care.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, non-randomized comparative cohort study involving 339 patients.
• Patients were allocated to either a nurse-led (n=216) or doctor-led (n=123) cohort.
• Patient satisfaction was measured using a validated, adapted questionnaire with high internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.91).

Main Results:

• The study achieved a 78% response rate (258/331 patients).
• Nurse-led clinics showed significantly higher patient satisfaction (85% strongly agreed) compared to doctor-led clinics (65% strongly agreed) (p<0.001).
• Statistical significance was observed in overall satisfaction scores and responses to individual questionnaire items.

Conclusions:

• Patient satisfaction in colorectal 2ww clinics is significantly influenced by the clinician.
• Nurse-led clinics demonstrate superior patient satisfaction compared to doctor-led clinics.
• Findings suggest opportunities for service enhancement and warrant further research into optimal care models.