Assessment of Patient Satisfaction with Perioperative Anaesthetic Care and Associated Factors at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI)

Abstract

Background: Patient satisfaction is an important indicator to measure the quality of health care and affects clinical outcomes. Therefore, its appraisal may allow improved therapeutic care with wonderful outcomes; hence a high level of satisfaction. In 2018, three different reports from WHO have emphasised the facts that improvement of quality of care is still indispensable. These reports show that measuring healthcare outcomes lead to the positive achievement of some aims of healthcare such as improved patient experience of care, reduced clinician and staff burnout. Anaesthesia care impacts all processes of surgery; thus, patient satisfaction contributes to a balanced evaluation of the structure, process and outcome of service. Patient satisfaction has been widely studied around the world. However, in Tanzania, there is no evidence about patient satisfaction with anaesthesia care. Broad objective: To evaluate the level of patient satisfaction with perioperative anaesthetics care within 24 hours post-surgery and to determine the associated factors. Method: This is a descriptive qualitative study that was conducted at the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; from January 2021 to March 2021 Patients planned for elective procedures which required anaesthesia care were sampled conveniently. Those who fulfilled inclusion criteria (such as the age of 18 years and above, full conscious patient post-operatively, ASA state I-III) and Consented to take part in the study were enrolled. The Leiden Perioperative care Patient Satisfaction questionnaire (LPPSq) was used to collect data within 24 hours post-surgery through a face-to-face interview. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20 by a descriptive statistical analysis for categorical variables and Chi-square test for associations. Result: The majority of the enrolled patients (61.2%) were young with the age ranging between 18 to 40 years. Among those recruited in the study, 82.4 % of the patients were operated on planned date and 59.6% received loco-regional anaesthesia. The proportion of the overall satisfaction was high (98%), Information provided (94.4%) and staff-patient relationships (98.8%) are major determinant factors of patient satisfaction with a strong association; (p=0.001). Socio-demographic status did not affect significantly the overall satisfaction; nonetheless, the marital status was associated with some degree of fear and concern (p=0.022). In regards to the care received on discomfort and needs (postoperative pain, vomiting, cold, hunger, thirst etc.) 83.6% of patients were highly satisfied. Conclusion: The study shows that patients are highly satisfied with the perioperative anaesthetic care received at MOI. The positive approach used by the anaesthesia team made them feel well and more assertive to the received care.