The Association of Patient Satisfaction with Pain, Anxiety, and Self-Reported Physical Function

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Patient Experience Research
• Health Outcomes

Background:

• Understanding factors influencing patient satisfaction is crucial for healthcare quality improvement.
• Previous research has not fully elucidated the variables impacting patient satisfaction in specialized clinics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between patient-reported physical function, pain, and anxiety with patient satisfaction in a hand and upper-extremity outpatient setting.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving 1,160 adult patients undergoing evaluation at an upper-extremity clinic.
• Utilized validated Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures for physical function, pain interference, and anxiety, alongside the QuickDASH scale.
• Employed logistic regression to analyze the relationship between pre-encounter patient-reported outcomes and post-visit satisfaction survey results, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

• Increased pain interference and anxiety were significantly associated with decreased overall patient satisfaction and satisfaction with the care provider.
• Higher self-reported physical function demonstrated a positive association with new patient satisfaction with their care provider.
• For return visits, both pain interference and anxiety showed a significant negative association with overall patient satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Pre-visit levels of physical function, anxiety, and pain are significant predictors of patient satisfaction in hand and upper-extremity clinics.
• These findings have implications for interpreting patient satisfaction metrics, especially as they are increasingly integrated into healthcare payment and quality assessment models.