Patient-centered Care: Insights into Satisfaction Drivers.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Healthcare Quality
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Patient satisfaction is a critical measure of healthcare quality, impacting adherence, outcomes, and reputation.
• The link between length of hospital stay (LOS) and patient satisfaction in neurology is not well understood, especially concerning sex and diagnosis variations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how LOS affects patient satisfaction and experience in neurological care.
• To identify strategies for improving care and communication within neurological settings.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective observational study of 181 neurology inpatients (January 2023-January 2025).
• Patient satisfaction assessed via surveys on overall experience, staff communication, and discharge.
• Partial correlation and ANOVA used to analyze LOS, sex, diagnosis, and satisfaction.

Main Results:

• A significant negative correlation exists between LOS and patient satisfaction (r = -0.19, P = 0.012).
• Longer LOS correlated with lower perceived competency, physician communication, and treatment involvement.
• Females reported lower satisfaction than males, particularly concerning hospitalization conditions, discharge, and communication. Headache diagnosis in females showed the lowest satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Extended hospital stays are linked to diminished patient satisfaction.
• Female sex and headache diagnosis significantly impact satisfaction levels.
• Improved communication and discharge planning are essential for enhancing patient-centered care in neurology.