Patient Satisfaction After Discharge Is Discordant With Reported Inpatient Experience

Patient satisfaction measures are commonly used to evaluate clinical performance. However, research on the correlation between patient satisfaction scores and actual patient experience is limited. This study aimed to determine the concordance between patient satisfaction reported as an inpatient and patient satisfaction reported after discharge. The study enrolled 231 adult orthopedic patients at least 48 hours after admission to an academic hospital. Study participants rated their overall inpatient experience on a scale of 0 to 10, followed by open-ended questions on their hospital experience. Participants were then randomized to a second survey by either phone or mail at 4 to 6 weeks after discharge. Statistical and qualitative techniques were used to assess concordance in satisfaction scores and the agreement and association between patient experiences and patient satisfaction scores. The median overall patient satisfaction scores were 9.5 as inpatients (interquartile range [IQR], 8-10) and 10 at follow-up (IQR, 8-10), with a poor concordance between the inpatient and follow-up satisfaction scores (ρ_c=0.28). This study raises concerns regarding the validity of patient satisfaction measures to accurately quantify inpatient experience and the limitations related to its modes of administration. The authors observed poor agreement between the reported experience as an inpatient and the recollection of the inpatient experience after discharge. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(3):e427-e433.].