Factors in patient satisfaction: A study of short term nursing home patients

Abstract

The quality and cost-effectiveness of nursing home care and services are fundamental concerns for the elderly and their families, even as they have come to define major policy debates at the state and federal levels. Although patient satisfaction is gaining acceptance as a quality of care outcomes indicator, there is a dearth of empirical satisfaction research among sub-acute care rehabilitation patients in nursing homes.;This study explores the dimensions of patient satisfaction and examines the factors that influence it. Specifically, the combined effects of life satisfaction, health status, length of stay and diagnosis, on patient satisfaction are measured along with several demographic variables including age, marital status, gender and religion.;A sample of 100 patients was drawn from among those admitted to a sub-acute care rehabilitation program in a nursing home. Each had a diagnosis of hip fracture or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or other, e.g., joint replacement, with a nursing home stay of no more than 100 days and discharged to home. The data were gathered through a mailed self-report instrument which included, the Nursing Home Resident Questionnaire (Kane, Riegler, Bell, Potter, & Koshland, 1982), Life Satisfaction Index-Z (Neugarten, Havinghurst & Tobin, 1961) and Medical Outcomes Study SF-36 scTM Health Survey{dollar}\copyright{dollar} (Stewart & Ware, 1992). Data were analyzed by the use of frequency distributions, comparison of means, simple correlation and a stepwise regression model.;The results showed a significant correlation between life satisfaction, the independent variable, and patient satisfaction, the dependent variable, and demonstrated a relationship between two independent health status variables, general health and mental health, and life satisfaction. General health and mental health were shown to be significant predictors of life satisfaction. In turn, life satisfaction and mental health were significantly related to patient satisfaction. No significance emerged in the relationship between demographic variables and patient satisfaction. Implications for these findings in regard to social work practice and policy as well as future research are discussed in detail.