Assessing patient satisfaction with a microsuction service in general practice: a comparative study.

Ruairi Hasson,Claire Collins,Camilla Carroll,Karena Hanley,Eoin Mcdermott

doi:10.3399/bjgpopen19x101649

Abstract

BackgroundIn the UK, about 2.3 million people each year require intervention for wax impaction, while otitis externa accounts for just over 1% of general practice consultations. Aural microsuction of debris from the ear canal is a commonly performed procedure within the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) outpatient clinic. This article examines the patient acceptability of an aural microsuction service delivered in general practice.AimTo determine patient satisfaction following the introduction of a new microsuction service in general practice compared with a hospital-delivered service.Design & settingThis is a prospective comparative study in two rural general practices in Ireland and the emergency department (ED) of the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH), Dublin.MethodA 3-month period of data collection on usual care of 56 patients in general practice was followed by a 3-month period of GP-intervention data collection on 67 patients. Comparative data were collected on 37 patients who attended the RVEEH for the same intervention procedure. Patients completed a validated patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ-18).ResultsBoth general practice groups scored significantly higher in all seven aspects of medical care than the RVEEH cohort. Patients in the GP-intervention group scored significantly higher in terms of satisfaction with procedure technique compared with the usual care GP group.ConclusionThe provision of microsuction as a service in general practice confers as much or more patient satisfaction as the provision of the service in a hospital setting.

Highlights

In the UK, about 2.3 million people each year require intervention for wax impaction.[7]
There are multiple studies examining the impact on patient satisfaction of the introduction of specialties into primary care that historically were found only in secondary care.[1,2,3,4]
This study shows that a microsuction service in the general practice setting confers patient satisfaction, delivering care in a setting that is preferable to patients

Summary

Introduction

In the UK, about 2.3 million people each year require intervention for wax impaction.[7] Otitis externa accounts for just over 1% of all general practice consultations,[8] with 3% of cases seen referred to secondary care.[9] Aural microsuction of debris from the ear canal is a commonly performed procedure within the ENT outpatient clinic.[10] Cashman et al[11] found that over half of all otology referrals were for otitis externa and wax impaction, conditions that may require microsuctioning, which is not routinely provided by GPs in Ireland. In the UK, about 2.3 million people each year require intervention for wax impaction, while otitis externa accounts for just over 1% of general practice consultations. This article examines the patient acceptability of an aural microsuction service delivered in general practice

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Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion