Patient satisfaction with anaesthesia - Part 1: Satisfaction as part of outcome - And what satisfies patients

Abstract

Patients' involvement in all decision processes is becoming increasingly important in modern healthcare. Patient satisfaction is a sensitive measure of a well-functioning health service system. The objective of this review is to discuss patient satisfaction as part of outcome quality, to define the somewhat abstract term 'satisfaction', and to discuss the role of surrogate markers within the field of satisfaction with anaesthesia care. We critically discuss what is relevant to satisfy patients with anaesthesia care, and we provide guidance on improving satisfaction. This article is accompanied by an Editorial by McGrady, pp 1095-1099 of this issue. © 2013 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.