Descriptive study on the improvement of quality perceived after the introduction of a clinical pathway by patients subjected to bariatric surgery

Objectives: To evaluate the level of perceived satisfaction in patients undergoing bariatric procedures after implementing a clinical pathway, and to analyse factors related to a high degree of satisfaction. Material and methods: A cohort of patients was invited to fulfil, anonymously and voluntarily, a SERVQHOS survey the day before hospital discharge. Results: Seventy-one (53 female) out of 103 patients (70%) responded to the questionnaire. A total of 97.3% of patients who completed the survey answered to the questions "as expected" or "above expectations". Most (98.6%) of the patients were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the care received, and 97.2% would recommend the hospital to others. Questions better related to overall satisfaction were technology used (P=.008), staff appearance (P=.019), the interest of staff to fulfil a promise (P=.002), and to solve the problems of the patient (P=.021), information provided by the medical staff (P=.039) and waiting time until being seen by the doctor (P=.002). In the multivariate study, only the "personalized care" achieved the category of a predictive variable (r = 0.52). Median hospital stay was 3 days, and 76% of patients considered it adequate. The percentage of highest satisfaction was significantly lower in female, singles, unemployed, and those with academic studies. Conclusions: Morbid obese patients included in a clinical pathway of bariatric surgery had a good perception with the care received. © 2011 SECA. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L. Todos los derechos reservados.