BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Long-term treatment of people living with HIV (PLHIV) encounters various challenges, such as medication adherence, stigma, discrimination, and healthcare access. Patient satisfaction with healthcare services is vital for maintaining treatment adherence. Therefore, understanding the factors influencing patient satisfaction is crucial. We conducted a qualitative study to explore these factors in primary HIV care facilities in Metro Manila, Philippines.

In this qualitative study, we interviewed PLHIV aged 18-59 receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in primary HIV care facilities in Metro Manila. Data saturation was reached after 19 in-depth interviews. We transcribed all audio files verbatim in Filipino and analyzed the data using deductive and inductive thematic analysis, guided by the SERVQUAL model as a theoretical framework. We employed MAXQDA, a qualitative data analysis software for coding and data management. We illustrated themes and sub-themes with quotes derived from the data.

Six key themes emerged regarding factors influencing patient satisfaction: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and location. The first five themes aligned with the SERVQUAL model, while location emerged as a new theme. PLHIV preferred accessible clinics, a clean and pleasant ambiance, and positive interactions with healthcare providers. Moreover, they suggested facility improvements, including expansion, better ventilation, enhanced service delivery, and increased healthcare staff.

Enhanced service delivery and positive healthcare interactions, along with favorable physical attributes of primary HIV care facilities, drive patient satisfaction and long-term retention. These modifiable factors contribute to the continuous care of PLHIV, ultimately improving their quality of life.

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine as a response to the need for consultation amidst limited face to face interaction during the pandemic became part of the services of most tertiary hospitals in Davao City. In order to ensure the client’s needs are addressed by existing telemedicine services, it is important to look at the level of client satisfaction and identify factors that influence it.

The main objective of the study was to determine the level of satisfaction and the factors influencing it among the patients of the Family Medicine Department of a tertiary hospital in Davao City on the telemedicine services they received.

The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design utilizing a self-administered telemedicine satisfaction questionnaire developed from the Clinician and Group Adult Visit Survey 4.0 (beta) and Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ). Participants were 18 years old and above and sought teleconsultation in the institution during the pandemic. Excluded were those who did not give consent. The data gathered were analyzed using an Epi-Info software to determine what factors were associated with level of satisfaction, a chi-square test was done for nominal and ordinal data while a t-test or ANOVA as applicable was used for continuous data.

A total of 278 patients were surveyed. More than ninety-five percent of the respondents perceived high satisfaction rating on the telemedicine service while less than five percent were dissatisfied. Eight factors were identified that seem to affect level of satisfaction. These include employment status, network connection and frequency of telemedicine.

The study identified that the telemedicine in SPMC DFCM provides high level of satisfaction among patients availing the service. It was also identified that factors such as employment status, network connectivity and frequency of using the service affects the level of satisfaction.

BACKGROUND

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients often face critical treatment decisions that significantly affect their quality of life, making Shared Decision-Making (SDM), a collaborative approach between patients and healthcare providers, an essential component of patient-centered care.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of SDM on decisional readiness and patient satisfaction among CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) at Southern Isabela Medical Center (SIMC).

An analytical cross-sectional design was utilized. The Tagalog Version of SDM Q-9 questionnaire, Decision survey and CSAT survey tool were given to HD patients of SIMC from September – October 2024. Descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation and chi square test were used to report and analyze data.

One hundred eight (108) CKD patients on HD were included in the study. Shared decision-making score was high and overall satisfaction on health services was outstanding. Higher decisional readiness was associated with greater odds of reporting outstanding satisfaction (OR = 3.47, 95% CI: 2.563–4.688, p = 0.009). There was no significant association between patient satisfaction and SDM (r= 0.111, p =0.253.). Shared decision-making had a significant but weak positive correlation with decisional readiness (r =0.2043, p 0.035).

This study showed that fostering SDM positively enhances patients’ preparedness to make healthcare decisions. Decisional readiness is strongly associated with patient satisfaction, as confident patients are more likely to be satisfied with their care. The findings underscore the need for improved patient education to boost decisional readiness and support ongoing SDM practices. Integrating SDM into clinical workflows is essential to advancing patient-centered care and improving health outcomes for CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Anniversaries and Special Events ; Alkanesulfonic Acids

Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic opened an opportunity to explore the role of telemedicine in pediatric rheumatology clinic as well as patient satisfaction with virtual visits. Objective: To determine the usability and satisfaction rate of telemedicine among pediatric rheumatology patients and their caregivers. Method: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among patients and caregivers consulting via telemedicine at a pediatric rheumatology clinic of University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP – PGH), a tertiary government hospital. Collected data included socio-demographics and the validated Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ). Results: There were 39 (55.7%) patients and 31 (44.3%) primary caregivers included in the study. Across all usability factors, the response of primary caregivers did not significantly differ from those of patients. The average scores across all questions for both patients and primary caregivers were 5.96±1.19 and 6.04±1.34, respectively. This showed a high level of agreement that they were highly satisfied with telemedicine experience. Among the different usability factors, questions related to usefulness obtained the highest mean score for both patients (6.11±1.17) and primary caregivers (6.12±1.38). While the lowest mean score was observed on questions related to reliability, 5.65±1.33 for patients and 5.89±1.31 for primary caregivers. Conclusion Pediatric rheumatology patients as well as their caregivers are generally highly satisfied with telemedicine during this time of pandemic. With high patient and caregiver satisfaction, telemedicine could be an option for ambulatory patient care even after pandemic.
Telemedicine ; COVID-19 ; Patient Satisfaction

Patient feedback is a crucial component of health care improvement. It is recognized globally, with client satisfaction rate being one of the impact indicators of the 8-point agenda of the Philippine Department of Health (DOH).1 At the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), we value patient feedback. We conduct regular surveys to gather feedback on our various services. Our Public Assistance and Complaints Desk not only handles patient complaints about facilities and services but also facilitates actions based on this feedback. SPMC hosts patient groups, typically composed of individuals battling chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, and hypertension. These groups meet regularly, providing invaluable suggestions on how we can enhance the services they receive. Today’s patients are more conscious than ever about the quality of public services and their right to access them. They seek not just medical outcomes, but a satisfying experience that includes safe and comfortable facilities, efficient services, and pleasant interactions with health care personnel. Patients today are quick to voice their complaints about services, facilities, and health care personnel, often turning to social media. While this platform offers little chance for health care institutions to defend themselves, it provides an opportunity to listen, learn, and improve. Health care institutions should engage patients in advisory boards or patient panels to translate feedback into service improvements. We must use feedback channels, including social media and apps, to refine our services. While patient satisfaction is important, our goal is to improve patient outcomes. Patients should be informed about these efforts to reinforce the patient-centric nature of our services. Patient feedback ensures our health care system meets patients’ needs. It is the most valuable measure of our success. It is essential in the health care industry as it helps us shape a better health care system. It drives us to improve for the sake of every patient who walks through our doors.
Patient Satisfaction

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the patient satisfaction and associated factors regarding telemedicine use among Chong Hua Hospital employees consulting in staff clinic.

Using descriptive-correlational research design, the adopted survey questionnaire was distributed to 85 respondents.

Results revealed that a large proportion of employees who had tried telemedicine were aged 35-44 years old, mostly females and residents within Cebu City, who earned an estimated monthly income of Php 23,361- Php 46,761. In terms of the satisfaction domains, service quality was rated the highest while affordability was rated the least. There was also a very high repeat intentions to use telemedicine among the respondents.

It can be concluded that the expectations of patients in the new normal consulting through the virtual means were met in terms of the accessibility, affordability and even their procedural experience itself and exceeded expectations when it comes to the service quality. Several recommendations were provided to improve the provision of telemedicine in the institution.

Covid- 19 was declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020 by the World Health Organization, which introduced a major change in health care. During the pandemic, mandatory social distancing and lockdowns, made telemedicine the safest interactive system between patients and clinicians. Thereby, the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center launched its telemedicine platform by using social media account. Patient satisfaction is defined as patient-reported outcome measure while the structures and processes of care can be measured by patient-reported experiences. Patient satisfaction is a good evaluator of patients’ involvement in decision making and their role as partners in improving the quality of healthcare services.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to determine the satisfaction of patients consulting via telemedicine in Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center from January-December 2022.

METHODS:

Descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized in this study from January1 -December 31, 2022, at the Outpatient Department of Family and Community Medicine- Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center. Data was collected from the patients who were randomly selected and consulted via telemedicine using an adapted and validated survey. Consent was obtained prior to data collection. The data gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS:

The overall satisfaction of respondents with use of telemedicine for consultation was good and majority perceived that telemedicine was a safe alternative to face-to-face consultation, in providing healthcare services. Identified issues and challenges of telemedicine include poor internet connectivity (43.2%), inability to do physical exam (17.3%) and privacy issues (13.5%).

PURPOSE: Scar assessment tools can be utilized during the post-operative period to monitor scar progress. The primary aim of this systematic review was to evaluate current subjective scar assessment scales utilized in orthopaedic surgery. The secondary aim was to identify determinants of patients' satisfaction with their scars and evaluate current measurement scales. METHODS: The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses checklist was followed. Electronic databases, currently registered studies, conference proceedings and the reference lists of included studies were searched. There were no constraints based on language or publication status. A narrative synthesis provided a description and evaluation of scales utilized in orthopaedic surgery. Determinants of patient satisfaction were identified along with the scales used to measure satisfaction. RESULTS: A total of 6059 records were screened in the initial search. Twenty-six articles satisfied the inclusion criteria, assessing 7130 patients. In the literature, six validated subjective scar scales were identified, including the Vancouver scar scale, patient and observer scar assessment scale, Manchester scar scale, Stony Brook scar evaluation scale, visual analogue scale, and Hollander wound evaluation scale. Studies utilizing these scales to evaluate scars following orthopaedic procedures did so successfully. These were total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, and limb reconstruction. The scales demonstrated satisfactory validity. Functional outcomes such as restoration of movement ranked among patients' highest concerns. Scar cosmesis was found to be amongst patients' lowest priorities. CONCLUSIONS Subjective scar assessment scales identified in the literature were not designed specifically for orthopaedic surgery. However, these were able to appropriately assess scars in the studies identified in this review. Current evidence suggests the effect of scar cosmesis on patient satisfaction with orthopaedic procedures is limited.
Humans ; Cicatrix ; Orthopedic Procedures/adverse effects* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pain Measurement

OBJECTIVES: Gastrointestinal endoscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. The satisfaction degree of gastrointestinal endoscopy can directly affect the patient's compliance and further impact the treating effect. At present, there is no scale to evaluate the satisfaction degree of gastrointestinal endoscopy in China. This study aims to develop a satisfaction scale of gastrointestinal endoscopy suitable for national conditions and to evaluate its reliability and validity, which provides a tool for clinic to evaluate patients' satisfaction with gastrointestinal endoscopy. METHODS: The original gastrointestinal endoscopy satisfaction scale was compiled by literature review, consulting senior endoscopists and experts. Through the first round of survey about 120 patients, the original scale was analyzed and modified according to the results to get the gastrointestinal endoscopy satisfaction scale (formal scale). The formal scale was used to conduct the second round of survey about 200 patients. The reliability and validity of the scale were analyzed and evaluated according to the survey results. RESULTS: The reliability of the original scale was good but the validity was poor. The formal scale had 2 dimensions and 10 items, the Cronbach's alpha and split-half reliability were 0.889 and 0.823. The structure validity index χ²/df was 2.513, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.094, goodness of fit index (GFI) was 0.914, adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) was 0.861, comparative fit index (CFI) was 0.946, normed fit index (NFI) was 0.915. The aggregate validity was general, the discriminative validity was good, and the direct score of patients was strongly correlated with the total score of the scale. CONCLUSIONS The gastrointestinal endoscopy satisfaction scale has good reliability and validity, which can be used as a tool to evaluate patients' satisfaction with gastrointestinal endoscopy in China.
Humans ; Reproducibility of Results ; China ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Patient Compliance ; Personal Satisfaction