OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to describe and analyse interventions performed in the emergency department (ED) of an Italian hospital with the aim of humanising the patient care pathway. The actions taken are described and the changes analysed to determine whether they resulted in an increased level of patient satisfaction. METHODS: An observational study was conducted between October 2010 and March 2011. The data were collected via a telephone questionnaire administered to patients who were admitted to the ED before and after humanisation interventions. The respondents were questioned about their general condition and their level of satisfaction. RESULTS: The study population included 297 patients (158 before and 139 after the interventions). The highest overall patient satisfaction after the interventions was highly correlated with the humanisation interventions and not with other factors such as gender, age, educational level or the severity code triage. Specifically, in patients who went to the ED after the changes had been made, there was a greater level of satisfaction regarding comfort in the waiting room, waiting time for the first visit and the privacy experienced during the triage. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the interventions implemented in this study, designed to humanise the ED, improved overall patient satisfaction. Interventions may be taken to reduce the depersonalisation of patients in the emergency room.

Humanisation in the emergency department of an Italian hospital: new features and patient satisfaction

LOVATO, Emanuela;GIACOMETTI, MARIKA;PAPALIA, RICCARDO;BERT, Fabrizio;SILIQUINI, Roberta
2013-01-01

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to describe and analyse interventions performed in the emergency department (ED) of an Italian hospital with the aim of humanising the patient care pathway. The actions taken are described and the changes analysed to determine whether they resulted in an increased level of patient satisfaction. METHODS: An observational study was conducted between October 2010 and March 2011. The data were collected via a telephone questionnaire administered to patients who were admitted to the ED before and after humanisation interventions. The respondents were questioned about their general condition and their level of satisfaction. RESULTS: The study population included 297 patients (158 before and 139 after the interventions). The highest overall patient satisfaction after the interventions was highly correlated with the humanisation interventions and not with other factors such as gender, age, educational level or the severity code triage. Specifically, in patients who went to the ED after the changes had been made, there was a greater level of satisfaction regarding comfort in the waiting room, waiting time for the first visit and the privacy experienced during the triage. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the interventions implemented in this study, designed to humanise the ED, improved overall patient satisfaction. Interventions may be taken to reduce the depersonalisation of patients in the emergency room.
2013
30
6
487
491
Humanisation; emergency department; emergency department management; epidemiology; patient satisfaction
Lovato E; Minniti D; Giacometti M; Sacco R; Piolatto A; Barberis B; Papalia R; Bert F; Siliquini R.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Lovato_Umanizzazione pre-print.pdf

Accesso aperto

Descrizione: Articolo principale
Tipo di file: PREPRINT (PRIMA BOZZA)
Dimensione 424.67 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
424.67 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/120344
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 7
  • Scopus 26
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 22
social impact