Patient Satisfaction in Outpatient Radiology: Effects of Modality and Patient Demographic Characteristics

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Health Services Research
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Patient satisfaction is a key metric in healthcare quality.
• Understanding satisfaction drivers in outpatient radiology is crucial for service improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of patient satisfaction in outpatient radiology.
• To compare patient satisfaction across different radiology modalities.
• To examine satisfaction differences among various demographic groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of Press-Ganey outpatient surveys (2008-2017).
• Examined composite satisfaction scores and dissatisfaction rates (≤3 on a 5-point scale).
• Compared satisfaction across modalities (mammography, MRI, CT, radiography, US, NM/PET) and demographics.

Main Results:

• Mammography yielded higher satisfaction scores than other modalities.
• Dissatisfaction rates varied: mammography (3.9%) vs. CT (6.7%), MRI (7.3%), radiography (8.2%).
• Satisfaction differed by age (lowest for 20-29, highest for 70-79) and race/ethnicity (lowest for Hispanic/White, highest for Black/Asian).

Conclusions:

• Significant variations in patient satisfaction exist across radiology modalities and demographic factors.
• Facilities domain had the most low-scoring responses, suggesting potential for improvement.
• Further research into specific factors influencing patient experience is recommended to enhance care quality.