Patient satisfaction with extended-interval warfarin monitoring

Extended-interval monitoring of warfarin has been proposed to reduce follow-up burden and improve patient satisfaction. We aimed to make an initial assessment of anticoagulation satisfaction before and after an extended-interval warfarin monitoring intervention. We conducted a translational prospective single-arm pilot study of extended-interval warfarin monitoring in five pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinics. Patients meeting CHEST guideline criteria for extended-interval warfarin monitoring began progressive extended-interval follow-up (6, 8, and 12 weeks thereafter). The Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale (DASS) was administered at baseline and at end-of-study or study removal (in patients no longer appropriate for extended interval follow-up). Forty-six patients had evaluable pre- and post-intervention DASS survey data. Mean age of patients was 66.5 years, 74 % were non-Hispanic whites, and 48 % were men. Patients completed a mean ± SD of 34 ± 22 weeks of follow-up. Mean ± SD total DASS score at baseline was 45.2 ± 14.2 versus 49.1 ± 14.9 at end-of-study (mean change, +3.9 [95 % CI ?0.6–8.4; p = 0.09]), indicating no benefit—and trending toward decrement—to anticoagulation satisfaction. Change in anticoagulation satisfaction varied substantially following extended-interval monitoring, with no evidence of improved satisfaction. Plausible reasons for patients not preferring extended-interval monitoring include increased anxiety and disengagement from self-management activities, both potentially related to less frequent feedback and reassurance during extended interval-monitoring. Additional research is needed to identify who is likely to benefit most from extended-interval monitoring. Anticoagulation satisfaction should be considered with clinical factors and shared-decision making when implementing extended-interval warfarin monitoring.     

Patient satisfaction with sedation for flexible bronchoscopy

Background and objective:   Patient satisfaction with health care has increasingly been recognized as an important health outcome, but few studies have examined patient satisfaction with flexible bronchoscopy (FB). The purpose of this study was to assess patient satisfaction with FB conducted under conscious sedation and to identify the aspects of the procedure related to patient satisfaction.
Methods:   Patients' willingness to return for repeat FB was measured on a 5-point scale. Patients were asked whether they were bothered by the anaesthetic spray, scope insertion, shortness of breath, coughing, pharyngeal pain, chest pain or swallowing pain. Patients were asked to assess the quality of the physician, the institution and nursing, and their satisfaction with the privacy, waiting time and information provided about the procedure.
Results:   Of 161 consecutive eligible patients who underwent FB, 129 (80.1%) completed the questionnaire. Of the 129 patients, 65.8% reported that they would return for a repeat FB (12.4% would definitely return and 53.4% would probably return). Male gender, shorter examination time, excellent physician quality and not being bothered by coughing, pharyngeal pain or swallowing pain were related to greater patient satisfaction. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that male gender was related to greater patient satisfaction.
Conclusions:   Bronchoscopists should try to recognize the factors that influence patient satisfaction and adjust their management accordingly.     

Patient satisfaction after surgical treatment for fistula-in-ano

PURPOSE: The surgical treatment of fistula-in-ano frequently results in recurrence of the fistula or postoperative anal incontinence. Despite these problems, most patients are satisfied with the results of their surgery. To clarify this apparent discrepancy, we attempted to identify factors that affect patient's lifestyles and may contribute to their satisfaction. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 624 patients surgically treated for cryptoglandular fistula-in-ano at the University of Minnesota during a five-year period. Three hundred seventy-five patients returned their questionnaires. Patients who were followed up for a minimum of one year were included in this retrospective study. Associations between postoperative complications and patient satisfaction were identified by chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression. Attributable fractions for patient dissatisfaction were calculated using study population dissatisfaction rates. RESULTS: Patient satisfaction was strongly associated with fistula recurrence, difficulty holding gas, soiling of undergarment, and accidental bowel movements. Effects of incontinence on patient quality of life were also significantly associated with patient satisfaction as was the number of lifestyle activities affected by incontinence. Patients with fistula recurrence reported a higher dissatisfaction rate (61 percent) than did patients with anal incontinence (24 percent), but the attributable fraction of dissatisfaction for incontinence (84 percent) was greater than that for fistula recurrence (33 percent). Patient satisfaction was not significantly associated with age, gender, history of previous fistula surgery, type of fistula, surgical procedure, time since surgery, or operating surgeon. CONCLUSION: Patient satisfaction after surgical treatment for fistula-in-ano is associated with recurrence of the fistula, the development of anal incontinence, and with the effects of anal incontinence on patient lifestyle. In our series of patients treated mainly with laying open of the fistula tract, patients with fistula recurrence had a higher dissatisfaction rate than did patients with anal incontinence. However, because anal incontinence was more prevalent than fistula recurrence, a higher fraction of dissatisfaction was attributable to anal incontinence.Presented at the meeting of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Brighton, United Kingdom, July 10 to 12, 2000.     

Patient satisfaction after MRCP and ERCP

OBJECTIVE: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is an accurate diagnostic test for detecting abnormalities of the pancreaticobiliary system. Because it is noninvasive, MRCP appears to be more tolerable than ERCP, although this has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to compare patient satisfaction after MRCP and ERCP performed sequentially. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 34 patients undergoing ERCP, for whom an MRCP was able to be performed before ERCP. Patient satisfaction was assessed by validated questionnaires using seven-point Likhert scales (individual ratings and direct comparisons). The following dimensions were explored: anxiety, pain, discomfort, tolerability (relative to expectations), willingness to repeat the procedure, and overall preference. Chi2 and Student's t tests (paired and unpaired) were performed, and 95% CIs were provided. RESULTS: Two patients (5.9%) were unable to undergo MRCP because of claustrophobia. The remaining 32 completed both tests (94% same day) and all questionnaires. Average age was 56+/-18 yr, and 66% were women. In 23 patients, some degree of biliary obstruction was suspected; nine patients had pancreatitis. Patients reported a lower degree of pain (p < 0.001) and discomfort (p = 0.047) with MRCP, but MRCP was more difficult than they expected (p = 0.0 12). Patients were marginally more willing to repeat MRCP (ns, p = 0.09). On direct comparisons, patients were more satisfied with MRCP regarding anxiety (p = 0.04) and pain (p = 0.001). Patients displayed a higher overall preference for MRCP compared with ERCP (p = 0.01); however, only 59% clearly preferred MRCP over ERCP. The most common problem with MRCP was claustrophobia or noise (n = 15), and the differences were more striking in the subgroup without this problem. The subgroup undergoing purely diagnostic ERCPs showed clear preferences for MRCP. CONCLUSIONS: In many respects, MRCP is well tolerated, and certain subgroups, especially those undergoing diagnostic ERCPs, prefer MRCP over ERCP. As an endoscopist, one needs to be aware of the limitations of MRCP and relay these to the patient, as it seems that patients find MRCP more difficult than anticipated, and a significant number still prefer ERCP over MRCP. Patient satisfaction may be further improved by reducing noise and claustrophobia with selective premedication, earplugs, and the use of the new quieter fenestrated magnetic resonance imaging scanners.     

Patient satisfaction and allergen immunotherapy.

Although health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction are shifting doctors' attention to the patient, the scant number of publications on quality of life questionnaires and allergen immunotherapy contrasts with the quickly growing number of those dealing with this topic and pharmacotherapy. We delivered an original, self-administered patient satisfaction questionnaire to 95 patients (age = 17.7 +/- 7.9 years) suffering from allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (45%) and/or asthma (55%), who had been receiving allergen immunotherapy for more than 1 year (22.2 +/- 10.5 months). The anonymous, voluntary questionnaire was filled in at home; although only 32% were returned, we found no significant differences relating to age, sex, asthma, allergen sensitization or allergen immunotherapy regimen between the source sample and those who replied. Patient expectations, which were scored on a scale of 1 to 10 points, were rather poor, in sharp contrast with patient perception score after treatment (5.4 +/- 1.8 vs. 8.0 +/- 2.0, p < 0.0001). Perception scores did not differ between patients receiving seasonal or perennial allergen immunotherapy, nor did they depend on the duration of treatment. In addition, patient age, sex, diagnosis or sensitization did not appear to influence perceptions. In conclusion, our data suggest that when a voluntary, anonymous questionnaire is used, patients express a poor opinion of allergen immunotherapy, in contrast with high satisfaction after treatment, provided that allergen immunotherapy lasts long enough.     

Early automatic remote detection of combined lead insulation defect and ICD damage

Lead and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) devicefailure is a severe problem in ICD therapy and may occur withoutpreceding signs of deterioration. Insulation lead failure andsubsequent ICD defect 7 months after ICD implantation for secondaryprevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in a 70-year-old malewas automatically detected with the Home Monitoring system.Immediate lead and device replacement was performed. This caseillustrates the benefit of permanent automatic remote monitoringof implanted active devices.     

Patient satisfaction with conscious sedation for bronchoscopy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Bronchoscopic technique is not standardized. Controversies exist with regard to premedication with sedatives before the test. To evaluate safety and efficacy of conscious sedation, we studied 100 randomized patients undergoing diagnostic bronchoscopy; patients received premedication with lidocaine spray and atropine sulfate i.m. (nonsedation group; 50 patients) or lidocaine spray, atropine i.m. and diazepam i.v. (sedation group; 50 patients). METHODS AND RESULTS: Monitoring during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy included continuous ECG and pulse oximetry. The procedure could not be completed in six patients. None received premedication with diazepam; among the patients who ended the examination, tolerance to the examination (visual analogue scale, 0 to 100; 0 = excellent; 100 = unbearable) was better in the sedation group. Low anxiety, male sex, but not age were also associated with improved patient tolerance to the test. Oxygen desaturation occurred in 17% of patients, and it was not more frequent after diazepam treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, sedation had a beneficial effect on patient tolerance and rarely induced significant alterations in cardiorespiratory monitoring parameters.     

Visual distraction alone for the improvement of colonoscopy-related pain and satisfaction

AIM: To evaluate the effect of a relaxing visual distraction alone on patient pain, anxiety, and satisfaction during colonoscopy.METHODS: This study was designed as an endoscopist-blinded randomized controlled trial with 60 consecutively enrolled patients who underwent elective colonoscopy at Yokohama City University Hospital, Japan. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: group 1 watched a silent movie using a head-mounted display, while group 2 only wore the display. All of the colonoscopies were performed without sedation. We examined pain, anxiety, and the satisfaction of patients before and after the procedure using questionnaires that included the Visual Analog Scale. Patients were also asked whether they would be willing to use the same method for a repeat procedure.RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were allocated to two groups. Two patients assigned to group 1 and one patient assigned to group 2 were excluded after the randomization. Twenty-eight patients in group 1 and 29 patients in group 2 were entered into the final analysis. The groups were similar in terms of gender, age, history of prior colonoscopy, and pre-procedural anxiety score. The two groups were comparable in terms of the cecal insertion rate, the time to reach the cecum, the time needed for the total procedure, and vital signs. The median anxiety score during the colonoscopy did not differ significantly between the two groups (median scores, 20 vs 24). The median pain score during the procedure was lower in group 1, but the difference was not significant (median scores, 24.5 vs 42). The patients in group 1 reported significantly higher median post-procedural satisfaction levels, compared with the patients in group 2 (median scores, 89 vs 72, P = 0.04). Nearly three-quarters of the patients in group 1 wished to use the same method for repeat procedures, and the difference in rates between the two groups was statistically significant (75.0% vs 48.3%, P = 0.04). Patients with greater levels of anxiety before the procedure tended to feel a painful sensation. Among patients with a pre-procedural anxiety score of 50 or higher, the anxiety score during the procedure was significantly lower in the group that received the visual distraction (median scores, 20 vs 68, P = 0.05); the pain score during the colonoscopy was also lower (median scores, 23 vs 57, P = 0.04). No adverse effects arising from the visual distraction were recognized.CONCLUSION: Visual distraction alone improves satisfaction in patients undergoing colonoscopy and decreases anxiety and pain during the procedure among patients with a high pre-procedural anxiety score.     

Patient expectations and satisfaction with medical care for upper respiratory infections

To describe the determinants of patient satisfaction with medical care, self-administered questionnaires were given to a consecutive sample of 237 patients coming to an ambulatory care practice for the treatment of upper respiratory infections (URIs). Patients' most important goal was to obtain a diagnosis (57%). They usually got more reassurance, medication, and personal interest than they had expected (p = 0.0001). In a multivariate model, patients' satisfaction was related to the degrees of personal interest and reassurance they had received and to whether they felt they had received the right medication (r2 = 0.45, p = 0.0001). The authors concluded that patients with URIs generally want a diagnosis but are primarily satisfied by the personal interest, the reassurance, and the medication they receive.     

Patient satisfaction and symptom relief after anal dilatation

Anal dilatation is used as a simple method of treatment and has been used for both anal fissure and haemorrhoids. This study examined longer-term results among a cohort of 162 patients, 132 of whom responded to a detailed questionnaire, an 82% response (66 patients were male; age range 17–75 years, median 42 years). Follow-up ranged from 16 months to 36 months (median 27 months) after anal dilatation (68 patients for fissure, 32 for haemorrhoids, and 32 for both). In the early months after dilatation, 83% had symptomatic improvement and 76% remained improved. Five (7%) patients with fissure and 11 with haemorrhoids (17%) required further hospital treatment, while 10% and 17%, respectively, had received further treatment from their general practitioners (GPs). Seventy-one percent said they would have a further anal dilation if symptoms recurred. There was no difference in results obtained by surgeons of different seniority. Complications – bleeding (29%) and difficulty controlling flatus (15%) or faeces (8%) – resolved in all cases. The results of anal dilatation for fissure are generally satisfactory in the longer term, with a trend toward better symptom relief in patients with fissure compared with those with haemorrhoids. We do not recommend anal dilatation as the sole treatment of patients with haemorrhoids, but it may be a useful adjunct to other treatments such as banding or sclerotherapy. Morbidity was generally acceptable and the majority of our patients would be prepared to have this procedure again if their symptoms were to return. Accepted: 14 September 1998     

ICD monitoring zones: intricacies, pitfalls, and programming tips

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) are widely regarded as the treatment of choice for primary and secondary prevention against sudden cardiac death across a broad spectrum of underlying pathologies. Over the past 20 years, ICDs have evolved into complex multifunctional units capable of recording, chronicling, self-testing, and delivering interventional therapies. Technological advances permitted the creation of ICD monitoring zones that are now considered valuable in diagnosing slower, presumably more stable ventricular arrhythmias. They may be helpful especially in patients with unexplained symptoms such as palpitations and/or syncope, particularly in the setting of antiarrhythmic pharmacological therapy that may slow ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Caregivers largely view ICD monitoring zones as passive features that do not interfere or interact with appropriate functioning of active treatment zones. As will be discussed in this clinical review, this is not always the case. Herein, we unravel the intricacies regarding monitoring zone functions and algorithms, highlight potential pitfalls, and offer practical programming tips relevant to each device manufacturer.