Correlates of patients’ satisfaction with care following myocardial infarction

Objectives: To evaluate to what extent age, previous hospital experience, psychological distress and expectation is associated with patients’ judgements of satisfaction with their care. Design and Method: Demographic factors and mood were evaluated in a cross-sectional study of the relationship between Myocardial Infarction (MI) and patient satisfaction in 36 patients immediately after discharge following a MI. A modified patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ) (Rubin et al. 1990) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (Zigmond and Snaith, 1983) was used. The study was conducted between June–September 1997. Results: We showed that age, initial expectations, anxiety and depression was significantly related to the total score of satisfaction with hospital care. Participants identified family involvement in care as well as the skill and competence of health care providers as key factors related to improving their condition and satisfaction.Conclusions : Psychosocial factors are associated with the degree of satisfaction with care. More research is needed in this area to explore the precise nature of the relationship between satisfaction and psychosocial aspects of health.