Post-operative Visits and Patient Satisfaction, Dr. Tada

Troy Tada, DO

Does a Postoperative Visit Increase Patient Satisfaction With Anaesthesia Care? D. Saal; T. Heidegger; M. Nuebling; R. GermannBr J Anaesth. 2011;107(5):703-709

This is a prospective randomized study published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia studying the effects of postoperative day one visits by an anesthesia provider on over all patient satisfaction.  Continuity of personal care by the anesthesia provider was defined by the  perceived presence of a single anesthesia provider  who provided preoperative evaluation and anesthesia care and who made one postoperative visit to the patient.

This study was undertaken to assess whether a single postoperative visit by the same anesthetist who previously delivered anesthesia increased the patient's perception of continuity of personal care by anesthesia provider and hence satisfaction. In addition,  a postoperative visit by a nurse anesthetist was also examined to reveal if similar results were perceived of continuity of personal care by the patient. Patients received a previously validated questionnaire after discharge from hospital.

This study showed that a single postoperative visit by the attending anesthesiologist generated  significant increase in the perception of continuity of personal care by the anesthetist  when compared with no visit at all. Secondly, when compared with a visit by a nurse anesthetist, there was no significant difference in the perception of continuity of personal care. Lastly, the overall satisfaction with anesthesia was unchanged by the postoperative visit.