Assessment Of Patient Satisfaction Of Outpatient Care In The Multi-Disciplinary Breast Clinic- Linguistic Validation Study

Patient satisfaction is the primary means of assessing the effectiveness of primary health care delivery. It helps in improving the quality of care by identifying and help resolving the potential problem areas. It assesses the effectiveness of the care provided and document the quality to accrediting organisations.In our institute, we have developed a patient satisfaction survey (PSS) questionnaire and have conducted a pilot study (Institutional review board approved) with fifty English speaking breast cancer patients receiving active cancer directed treatment in outpatient clinic, to evaluate the level of patient satisfaction in them. Therefore, we are now conducting a linguistic validation study using Hindi and Marathi PSS questionnaire to assess the overall level of patient satisfaction in a larger cohort of patients with diverse linguistic and economic background attending both general and private Outpatient Clinic.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the overall level of patient satisfaction and their satisfaction at various encounters in the multi-disciplinary Breast Clinic which can be helpful to improve various aspects of patient care delivery.

Methods:

All patients who have already sort primary consultation in surgical, medical and radiation oncology outpatient clinics for their treatment plan and have had their last consultation within the last one month will be screened for the study. The Patient Satisfaction Survey (PSS) questionnaire (in preferred language) will be administered independently by a clinical research student who is not directly involved in patient care. The PSS will be anonymous. It will be administered to patients in the out-patient clinics waiting area. Patients will be asked to complete 3 surveys: one each for surgical, medical and radiation oncology professionals. It will take approximately 12 months to enroll the required number of patients.

Sample size: Previous studies conducted in India and the pilot study conducted at Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) with the PSS questionnaire have shown that approximately 70% of the patients are satisfied with the health care services. Assuming that the proportion of patients satisfied with the health services, when assessed by Hindi and Marathi PSS questionnaire will be ± 5% of 70%, i.e. between 65% to 75%, a sample size of 340 will be needed to produces a two-sided 95% confidence interval, which is determined by using Confidence Intervals Formula- Clopper-Pearson method.

Potential Impact of the Study

1. Knowledge of patient satisfaction in breast cancer patients belonging to diverse linguistic and socio-economic background will help in improving the quality of life of patients using appropriate resources and measures relevant to Indian context.
2. Awareness of patient dissatisfaction will help improve doctor patient relationship.
3. Awareness of patient dissatisfaction will help to identify problem areas and improve the care delivery.