Introduction: We evaluated the relationship of patient satisfaction to arrival and wait times. We also sought to determine factors that patients considered important to the visit experience.
Methods: A total of 361 participants completed a survey in clinic to record wait times in various areas of the clinic and then rate satisfaction levels with these times and with the care received. A total of 211 participants ranked 6 factors related to the patient experience in the order considered important.
Results: Early, on time and late arriving patients spent 26.0, 15.5 and 17.1 minutes in the waiting room and had a total visit duration of 82.5, 67.9 and 72.0 minutes, respectively. Significant differences existed between these times when the early group was compared with the on time and late groups. Early patients were significantly more satisfied with wait time in the waiting room and total clinic visit time compared to late patients. Receiving treatment or relief from a medical problem was the most important factor valued by this population.
Conclusions: Surprisingly, patients with longer waits were more satisfied with the time in the waiting room and overall visit duration, indicating that other variables influence patient satisfaction with perceived wait times. This study provides evidence that wait time might not be as important to patients or impact patient satisfaction as previously thought. On average wait time was ranked fifth in regard to what was important. Longer wait times did not seem to impact patient satisfaction when asked about overall satisfaction with the care received.
Keywords: medical; patient satisfaction; practice management; surveys and questionnaires; time factors; urology.