Abstract
Objective
Healthcare service satisfaction focuses not only on the patients but also on the overall quality and effectiveness of the care provided. This study aimed to explore the correlation between patients’ perceptions of empathy, patient satisfaction, and the quality of recovery in elderly patients undergoing postoperative care for lower extremity fractures under spinal anesthesia.
Methods
In the present cross-sectional study, 138 elderly patients who underwent surgery for lower extremity fracture and spinal anesthesia were selected for inclusion in the study. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perception of Physician Empathy, the Patient Satisfaction Scale, and the Postoperative Quality of Recovery Score. Multivariate regression was performed to evaluate the associations between patient-reported factors and satisfaction.
Results
The overall average scores for patient perception of empathy, quality of recovery, and patient satisfaction were 20.30 (1.18), 110.11 (8.26), and 156.86 (5.44), respectively. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between patient quality of recovery and patient perception of empathy and patient satisfaction (p < 0.01).
Conclusions
This finding could also inform policymaking and the development of guidelines aimed at improving the quality of healthcare delivery. This study encouraged healthcare organizations and institutions to foster empathy in healthcare interactions, which may positively impact patient satisfaction and subsequent recovery outcomes, and patient-centered care.