Is perception of nursing care among orthopaedic trauma patients influenced by age?

The determinants of patient satisfaction have not been well defined, yet remain a major quality metric for hospitals. We surveyed a group of orthopaedic trauma patients to determine if age differences influence rating of the nursing care they received. One-hundred and four patients were administered an original survey utilizing a Likert Scale. Statements were categorized relating to intellectual (sufficient explanation), emotional (sufficient concern) and temporal (timeliness) satisfaction with the nursing staff and analyzed for their relationship with age. Mean age was 55.8 years. Older patients reported significantly lower scores in all three categories. Overall satisfaction had a significant negative correlation with age. When comparing elderly and young patients, mean elderly scores were significantly lower than young patients with respect to all three categories. Findings indicate that age significantly influences perception of care received. This is particularly important considering the burgeoning elderly population. While societal amenities have evolved to accommodate the needs and demands of older citizens, patient services lag behind. In light of our findings, we believe it is time for a paradigm shift in the delivery of healthcare. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.