Importance of patient satisfaction with care in predicting osteoarthritis-specific health-related quality of life one year after total joint arthroplasty.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

After previous results observed with a generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument, we aimed to confirm that immediate postoperative patient satisfaction with care predicts self-perceived health 1 year after total hip replacement/total knee replacement (THR/TKR), using an osteoarthritis (OA)-specific HRQoL questionnaire.

METHODS:

This was a French multicenter prospective cohort study of patients after THR/TKR. HRQoL was assessed by the OsteoArthritis Knee and Hip Quality Of Life (OAKHQOL) instrument before and after surgery and satisfaction with care by the Quality of Care Scale (QCS).

RESULTS:

A total of 189 patients were followed up 12 months after discharge (mean age 68.9 SD = 8.5; 41.9% male). After adjustment for relevant variables, patients satisfied with care postoperatively showed greater 1-year postoperative HRQOL than those less satisfied with care. Patients satisfied with medical information had a higher postoperative HRQoL score than patients less satisfied in 3 of 5 OAKHQOL dimensions (P < 0.001 to P = 0.02), and patients satisfied with relationships with staff and daily routine scored higher on all HRQoL dimensions than did less-satisfied patients (all P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

These new findings with an OA-specific HRQOL questionnaire confirm that immediate postoperative satisfaction with care after THR/TKR for OA is a good predictor of self-perceived health status 1 year after surgery. Satisfaction with care therefore represents a relevant indicator of patient-reported health and is quickly accessible to clinicians.

• Authors: Cédric Baumann, Anne-Christine Rat, Didier Mainard, Christian Cuny, Francis Guillemin
• Journal: Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation (Qual Life Res) Vol. 20 Issue 10 Pg. 1581-8 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1573-2649 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21533617 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Aged
• Analysis of Variance
• Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip (psychology, rehabilitation)
• Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee (psychology, rehabilitation)
• Female
• France
• Humans
• Male
• Osteoarthritis, Hip (surgery)
• Osteoarthritis, Knee (surgery)
• Patient Satisfaction
• Prospective Studies
• Quality of Life (psychology)
• Sickness Impact Profile
• Treatment Outcome