Differences in patient satisfaction by gender in users of hospitals in the Cantabrian Health Service

Objective: To study differences in patient satisfaction by gender, among users of hospitals in the Cantabrian Health Service, and if differences were found, to modify organizational policies of the centers in order to improve the quality of care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in October 2006, using the SERVQHOS questionnaire by telephone. The database of the questionnaire was merged with CMBD database, from which we extracted the length of stay and surgical data. The Student-Fisher t-test was used for quantitative variables and the chi(2) test for qualitative variables. Adjustment was carried out by linear regression. Results: The patient satisfaction is similar in male and female users of the hospitals in the Cantabrian Health Service. Although men are more satisfied on the information to relatives on the place and times for clinical information (92% vs 85.2%; p < 0.01), the handing over of the discharge report (95.5% vs 90.9%; p = 0.01), and that the report was the definitive (71.6% vs 64.7%; p = 0.02). Conclusions: The differences we found in patient satisfaction by gender do not justify changes in hospital organization to try and improve the quality of care. (C) 2008 Sociedad Espanola de Calidad Asistencial. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.