Determinants of caregiver satisfaction in pediatric orthopedics

This study investigates determinants of pediatric orthopedic surgery patients' parent or guardian (caregiver) satisfaction with the physician in an outpatient office setting. This was a cross-sectional survey study of 200 English-speaking caregivers of pediatric patients that checked into the pediatric orthopedic clinic at the authors' institution from 1 March 2017 to 1 November 2018. Questionnaires given in clinic include the Newest Vital Sign and The Literacy in Musculoskeletal Problems survey to measure general and musculoskeletal health literacy, respectively, demographic information, expected/estimated wait time, Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure, and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Clinician and Group. After multivariate regression, only perceived physician empathy as measured by the Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure score was significantly correlated with caregiver satisfaction (P < 0.0001), accounting for 56% of the variability of caregiver satisfaction scores. The odds of a satisfaction score of at least 9 out of 10 were 21% higher for every unit increase of the Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure score [odds ratio = 1.21 (P < 0.0001)]. After logistic regression, the caregiver's gender was also correlated with patient satisfaction and the odds of a patient satisfaction score ≥9 for males was less than 1/4th that of females [odds ratio = 0.16 (P = 0.040)]. The most important determinant of caregiver satisfaction with the physician in an outpatient pediatric orthopedic setting is perceived physician empathy. This accounts for the majority of the caregiver's satisfaction. This is the first study to determine this relationship in pediatric orthopedic surgery.