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Effect of organizational features on patient satisfaction with care in Italian multiple sclerosis centres
Author(s) -
Mattarozzi K.,
Baldin E.,
Zenesini C.,
Solari A.,
Amato M. P.,
Leone M.,
Mancardi G.,
Martinelli V.,
Savettieri G.,
Solaro C.,
Tola M. R.,
D'Alessandro R.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/ene.13263
Subject(s) - medicine , confidence interval , excellence , patient satisfaction , nice , psychological intervention , health care , family medicine , multivariate analysis , physical therapy , nursing , political science , computer science , law , economics , programming language , economic growth
Background and purpose Receiving clear, complete and up‐to‐date information and having a satisfying relationship with the health professional ( HP ) are of primary importance for MS patients. Healthcare organization plays a key role in promoting an effective relationship and communication between patients and HP s. The present study aims to explore which care organization and service characteristics provided by Italian MS centres best predict patients’ satisfaction with healthcare. Methods Eighty‐one centres and 707 patients (502 women, mean age 40.5 years, SD 10.2; mean education 12.2 years, SD 3.6; time since diagnosis 5.9 years, SD 1.5) were included in the analysis. The care organization and service provided by each centre were evaluated in comparison with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ( NICE ) guidelines on management of MS . Patients’ satisfaction with care was measured using the patient self‐assessed questionnaire ‘Comunicazione medico‐paziente nella Sclerosi Multipla, revised’ section 2 ( COSM ‐R section 2). Results The clinical characteristics of patients significantly affected their satisfaction. A multivariate regression model showed that higher patients’ satisfaction ( COSM ‐R score) was inversely associated with hospital size (number of patients under care) ( β = −0.21, 95% confidence interval −0.35; −0.07) and directly associated with psychological interventions ( β = 2.44, 95% confidence interval 0.29; 4.59). Conclusions Multiple sclerosis patients from larger hospitals are less satisfied with the information received and the relationship with HP s. Building an individualized relationship between patients and HP s and tailoring the communication of information improve patients’ satisfaction. Such a goal is probably less likely to be accomplished in larger centres with many incoming patients. Moreover, when the centres also provide structured psychological interventions, the patients are more satisfied.