Determinants of patient satisfaction: which are the relevant parameters in cataract surgery?

Session Details

Session Title: Cataract: Special Cases

Session Date/Time: Monday 15/09/2014 | 17:00-18:30

Paper Time: 18:13

Venue: Boulevard B

First Author: : T.Herbst GERMANY

Co Author(s): :    J. Foerster   D. Holland           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The aim of this study is to identify possible determinants for patient satisfaction of cataract patients.

Setting:

Data base for analyses results from “Quality Network Bellevue” (QNB) and “Quality Index Bellevue” (QiB). Within the QNB, Eye Hospital Bellevue is connected to 44 established ophthalmologists. A self-developed software enables the pooling of pre-, peri- and postoperative findings in a single data warehouse. With the help of this software, pre-, peri- and postoperative findings were transferred from raw data into different quality indices, called “Quality index Bellevue” (QIBs).

Methods:

Different statistical methods will be used: Spearman rank correlation will measure the relationship between patient satisfaction and different independent variables. For identifying significant differences in ordinal data, we will use Mann-Whitney-Test and Kruskal-Wallis tests. For examinations on aggregate levels, ANOVA test as well as ordinary t-test will be used. The isolated contribution of explanatory variables will be measured by discriminant analysis.

Results:

As a basic analysis, Kolmogorov-Smirnoff-test was used for testing normal distribution of explanatory variables. Mann-Whitney-U-Test and Kruskal-Wallis results indicated significant differences for 18 of 27 examined explanatory variables. With regard to significant correlations between patient satisfaction and explanatory variables, 12 of 18 potential variables which were suitable for a stepwise discriminant analysis. Stepwise discrimination analyses shows that phaco time, cornea finding (QIB cornea) and anterior chamber finding are best predictors for patient satisfaction. Since data ascertainment is still in process, further analyses will be made.

Conclusions:

A high patient satisfaction seems to be an increasingly important goal for every health care provider. Although this opinion is shared to the greatest possible extent, only little is known about main influence factors in ophthalmology. Based on an extensive data base, which includes more than 1.5 Mio. medical findings, we analyze possible predictors for patient satisfaction in cataract surgery. According to results of discriminant analyses, explanatory variables for patient satisfaction were effective phaco time, cornea finding and status of anterior chamber. Further results may arise in the context of further analyses, which will be undertaken, when data collection is completed. In this context, possible additional results may be observed.

Financial Interest:

NONE