Perceptions of quality in long-term care: a satisfaction survey

At a 387-bed geriatric hospital in Montreal, Canada, a cross-sectional satisfaction survey was conducted on random samples of patients, families, families of deceased patients, and nursing staff. Using the same pretested structured questionnaire, the subjects were asked to rank (assign importance to) and rate (assign a rate of success to) 15 indicators of quality care. Significant differences both between and within the four groups were found on the perceived importance and rate of success of many of the indicators, supporting the primary hypotheses. Ethnicity and several sociodemographic covariates influenced the importance and rate of success assigned to the key indicators. The article discusses survey methodology issues as well as the integration of a satisfaction survey into an overall quality improvement program.