Abstract
Background
Bedside ultrasound (US) is associated with improved patient satisfaction, perhaps
as a consequence of improved time to diagnosis and decreased length of stay (LOS).
Objectives
Our study aimed to quantify the association between beside US and patient satisfaction
and to assess patient attitudes toward US and perception of their interaction with
the clinician performing the examination.
Methods
We enrolled a convenience sample of adult patients who received a bedside US. The
control group had similar LOS and presenting complaints but did not have a bedside
US. Both groups answered survey questions during their emergency department (ED) visit
and again by telephone 1 week later. The questionnaire assessed patient perceptions
and satisfaction on a 5-point Likert scale.
Results
Seventy patients were enrolled over 10 months. The intervention group had significantly
higher scores on overall ED satisfaction (4.69 vs. 4.23; mean difference 0.46; 95%
confidence interval [CI] 0.17–0.75), diagnostic testing (4.54 vs. 4.09; mean difference
0.46; 95% CI 0.16–0.76), and skills/abilities of the emergency physician (4.77 vs.
4.14; mean difference 0.63; 95% CI 0.29–0.96). A trend to higher scores for the intervention
group persisted on follow-up survey.
Conclusions
Patients who had a bedside US had statistically significant higher satisfaction scores
with overall ED care, diagnostic testing, and with their perception of the emergency
physician. Bedside US has the potential not only to expedite care and diagnosis, but
also to maximize satisfaction scores and improve the patient–physician relationship,
which has increasing relevance to health care organizations and hospitals that rely
on satisfaction surveys.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: August 12, 2013
Accepted:
May 1,
2013
Received in revised form:
November 30,
2012
Received:
September 9,
2012
Footnotes
Zoe D. Howard, md is currently at the Division of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
