Assessment of patients' satisfaction with the postanesthesia care unit service at University Hospital in Al Khobar,...

The quality of health care is individually and subjectively reflected through patients' level of satisfaction, as well as the optimality and effectiveness of the provided postoperative pain management. The provision of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) service in hospitals has led to overall positive outcomes, in addition to the enhancement of patients' satisfaction with the provided pain management service. This study assessed patients' level of satisfaction with PACU service at a university hospital and discussed different factors that might have contributed to the level of satisfaction.

A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out among patients after being discharged from PACU. The study took place at King Fahad Hospital of the University in Al Khobar, KSA between November 2021 and February 2022. The data were collected using a three-section predesigned questionnaire.

Two hundred patients were included in this study. Nearly all patients (95.5%) were satisfied with the provided pain management service. Almost all patients (99.5%) indicated that the PACU staff was courteous and professional during the entire pain management service. More patients complained about pain before using analgesia and this difference was statistically significant (Z = 8.642; p < 0.001). The satisfaction rate was significantly higher in the older age group (>45 years) (Z = 2.114; p = 0.035), in patients with American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) 3 physical status (H = 13.130; p = 0.001), and those with a previous surgical history (Z = 2.139; p = 0.032).

This study concluded that the level of patients' satisfaction with PACU service was high, and established a statistically significant association with age, ASA score, and previous surgical history. Healthcare providers should consider patient education and effective communication to increase patients' satisfaction level and improve the overall quality of care.