252. Levels of Patient Satisfaction in a Nurse/Pharmacist-Led Dmard Counselling Clinic

Abstract

Background: This survey was designed to determine if our patients' information needs are being met in the disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) counselling clinic at University Hospitals of South Manchester. The clinic was established in March 2013 to provide patients requiring DMARD initiation with detailed information about their new medication. Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of quality of care and satisfaction with care can improve adherence to medication. Our objectives were to: (i) Report the level of patient satisfaction with the clinic; (ii) Explore attitudes to other methods of delivering information; (iii) Allow feedback of suggestions for improvement. Methods: DMARD counselling involves a 30 minute structured patient education programme on the DMARD focusing both on benefits and safety issues. The study design was a cross-sectional questionnaire approved by the hospital clinical audit and PALS organization. 50 patients who had been reviewed in the DMARD clinic were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. This included basic demographic information, drug information and some specific questions (see Table 1). Patients were asked to rate each question or statement using a 5 point Likert scale ranging from strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree and no opinion. Results: Analysis of the results from an initial pilot study indicate 100% of patients agreed/ strongly agreed that the treatment was explained clearly and the information was easy to understand. Encouragingly patients all strongly agreed/ agreed they were involved in the decision to commence the new treatment. Approximately 30% of patients would like the opportunity to meet others with their condition as part of a group or attend evening sessions to learn more about their condition. Many patients indicated they had no opinion regarding further methods of providing education, which suggests we need to explain the purpose and benefits of group educational sessions. Many patients reported there was a lot of information to take in. As a result of this feedback we plan to review how we deliver the information in the clinic to include e.g. visual information, tailor made education packs for patients with special needs or health literacy problems. Conclusion: The survey has indicated that we are explaining the treatment clearly which is key. However, it is important to be continually guided by patient opinion and feedback, we plan to develop more visual information to try and make it easier to digest. (Table Presented).