Effects of educational intervention in waiting room on patient satisfaction

J Ambul Care Manage. 2003 Apr-Jun;26(2):150-8. doi: 10.1097/00004479-200304000-00007.

Abstract

This study examines the effects of a low-cost educational intervention designed to occupy the waiting time in the clinic on patient satisfaction with the clinic visit. Patients waiting for appointments were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) educational intervention in the clinic waiting room (n = 160) and (2) usual clinic care (no structured education during the waiting time in the clinic; n = 160). There were significant negative correlations between satisfaction with the visit overall and the time patients waited in the clinic waiting room (r = -.17, p = .003) and their total wait time (r = -.16, p = .005). Patients who were taught while they waited in the clinics were more satisfied with their education than the control group (t = 4.26, df = 318, p < 0.001).

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Appointments and Schedules*
  • Glaucoma / prevention & control
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Services Research
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Midwestern United States
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / organization & administration*
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / standards
  • Outpatients / education*
  • Patient Education as Topic / organization & administration*
  • Patient Satisfaction / ethnology
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data*
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Program Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Time and Motion Studies
  • United States
  • Videotape Recording