Determine Patient Satisfaction Research Articles

Home-based care for noncommunicable diseases and patient satisfaction: A community-based cross-sectional study from Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT Background and Aims: In Tamil Nadu, India, the government has launched a home-based noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) care scheme to deliver health services at the doorstep of the beneficiaries. Hence, this study aimed to determine patient satisfaction and the factors associated with home-based care for diabetes and hypertension. Methodology: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2022. The sample size was 427, and the participants were selected by a simple random sampling method. We used the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18 to assess satisfaction. Results: The overall satisfaction score was 3.63 (0.44). Mean (standard deviation) satisfaction was highest in the financial aspect and the lowest in accessibility and convenience. The prevalence of adequate satisfaction with home-based care was 57% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 51.8%–61.4%). Participants belonging to social class 2 (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.15–1.96), P = 0.002), having a duration of NCD between 1 and 5 years (aPR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.10–1.92, P = 0.008), and not delivering all drugs for NCDs (aPR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.05–1.80, P = 0.021) were significantly associated with inadequate satisfaction. However, 90% of the participants were willing to continue home-based NCD care. Conclusion: Overall, patient satisfaction was 57%. Measures to distribute all the medication and routine monitoring of the scheme are necessary.

Telemedicine in Spine Patients: Utilization and Satisfaction Remain High Even After Easing of COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions.

Retrospective cohort study. The objectives of the present study were to (1) define telemedicine utilization rates during and after the initial height of the COVID-19 lockdown period and (2) determine patient satisfaction with telemedicine during and after the initial height of the COVID-19 lockdown period for spine patients at an orthopedic specialty hospital. Previous studies have shown high patient satisfaction with telemedicine during the initial height of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there exists limited data about spine telemedicine utilization and patient satisfaction after the reopening of in-person office visits and the easing of restrictions on elective surgical care. All patients who had an in-person or telemedicine visit at an urban tertiary specialty hospital from April 1, 2020 to April 15, 2021 were identified. Rates of overall telemedicine utilization over time were delineated. Patient satisfaction with telemedicine, as assessed through a series of questionnaires, was also evaluated over time. Overall, 60,368 patients were identified. Of these, 19,568 patients (32.4%) had telemedicine visit. During the peak initial coronavirus lockdown period, the rate of overall telemedicine utilization, on average, was greater than 90%. After the peak period, the rate of overall telemedicine utilization on average was at ~29% of all visits per month. The percentage of patients who would have been definitely comfortable if the telemedicine visit had been in-person increased over the entire study period ( P <0.001). Despite this, patient satisfaction based on survey responses remained statistically similar throughout the study period ( P >0.05). The rate of telemedicine utilization in spine patients remains high, at ~one-third of all visits, even after the initial peak coronavirus lockdown period. In addition, patient satisfaction with telemedicine remained consistent throughout the study period, regardless of pandemic restrictions on in-person visits. 3.

Was It Worth It? Critical Evaluation of a Novel Outcomes Measure in Oncologic Palliative Surgery.

Patient selection for palliative surgery is complex, and appropriate outcomes measures are incompletely defined. We explored the usefulness of a specific outcomes measure "was it worth it" in patients after palliative-intent operations for advanced malignancy. A retrospective review of a comprehensive longitudinal palliative surgery database was performed at an academic tertiary care center. All patients who underwent palliative-intent operation for advanced cancer from 2003 to 2022 were included. Patient satisfaction ("was it worth it") was reported within 30 days of operation after palliative-intent surgery. A total of 180 patients were identified, and 81.7% self-reported that their palliative surgery was "worth it." Patients who reported that their surgery was "not worth it" were significantly older and were more likely to have recurrent symptoms and to need reoperation. There was no significant difference in overall, recurrence-free, and reoperation-free survival for patients when comparing "worth it" with "not worth it." Initial symptom improvement was not significantly different between groups. Age older than 65 years (hazard ratio 0.25, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.80, p = 0.03), family engagement (hazard ratio 6.71, 95% CI 1.49 to 31.8, p = 0.01), and need for reoperation (hazard ratio 0.042, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.16, p < 0.0001) were all independently associated with patients reporting that their operation was "worth it." Here we demonstrate that simply asking a patient "was it worth it" after a palliative-intent operation identifies a distinct cohort of patients that traditional outcomes measures fail to distinguish. Family engagement and durability of an intervention are critical factors in determining patient satisfaction after palliative intervention. These data highlight the need for highly individualized care with special attention paid to patients self-reporting that their operation was "not worth it."

Subjective scar assessment scales in orthopaedic surgery and determinants of patient satisfaction: A systematic review of the literature

PurposeScar assessment tools can be utilized during the post-operative period to monitor scar progress. The primary aim of this systematic review was to evaluate current subjective scar assessment scales utilized in orthopaedic surgery. The secondary aim was to identify determinants of patients’ satisfaction with their scars and evaluate current measurement scales. MethodsThe preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses checklist was followed. Electronic databases, currently registered studies, conference proceedings and the reference lists of included studies were searched. There were no constraints based on language or publication status. A narrative synthesis provided a description and evaluation of scales utilized in orthopaedic surgery. Determinants of patient satisfaction were identified along with the scales used to measure satisfaction. ResultsA total of 6059 records were screened in the initial search. Twenty-six articles satisfied the inclusion criteria, assessing 7130 patients. In the literature, six validated subjective scar scales were identified, including the Vancouver scar scale, patient and observer scar assessment scale, Manchester scar scale, Stony Brook scar evaluation scale, visual analogue scale, and Hollander wound evaluation scale. Studies utilizing these scales to evaluate scars following orthopaedic procedures did so successfully. These were total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, and limb reconstruction. The scales demonstrated satisfactory validity. Functional outcomes such as restoration of movement ranked among patients' highest concerns. Scar cosmesis was found to be amongst patients’ lowest priorities. ConclusionsSubjective scar assessment scales identified in the literature were not designed specifically for orthopaedic surgery. However, these were able to appropriately assess scars in the studies identified in this review. Current evidence suggests the effect of scar cosmesis on patient satisfaction with orthopaedic procedures is limited.

Improving Service Quality Through Customer Satisfaction of Type D Hospital : A Phenomenological Approach

Health is very important for all humans because without good health, every human being will find it difficult to carry out their daily activities. Hospitals as one of the health care facilities in general have a very important role in efforts to improve the health status of the Indonesian people. However, until now, there are still many complaints from the public regarding the services obtained from the hospital. This study aims to answer the question of how the quality of service in a type D hospital is, and how is patient satisfaction in this type of hospital. This study uses a phenomenological approach to explore customer’s experience after being a patient in a type D hospital for 2 years. Data collection was carried out by means of in-depth unstructured interviews, in a very fluid atmosphere where the informants could tell their experiences freely. The results showed that the five aspects of service quality, namely tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy, played a very important role in determining patient satisfaction in type D hospitals.

Satisfaction with Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (SMART) and As Needed Combined Inhaled Corticosteroid-Formoterol in Adults with Asthma

In 2019, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) organization recommended ICS-formoterol as-needed or as single-maintenance and reliever therapy (SMART) as the preferred treatment for adults with asthma. Few studies have assessed inhaler satisfaction with these regimens, despite satisfaction with care being important in asthma management. Our objective is to determine patient satisfaction with SMART and as-needed ICS-formoterol as well as clinical factors associated with satisfaction.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of transobturator tape operation in the treatment of stress incontinence

Abstract&#x0D; Background/Aims:: In this study, In this study, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of Transobturator Tape Operation in the treatment of Stress İncontinence &#x0D; Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 454 patients who had TOT operations due to stress urinary incontinence between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2020, at the İstanbul Kanuni Traning and Research Hospital. The basic clinical characteristics of the participants were recorded. The number of daily peds, values of Q-type test and urinary retention, and scores of urogenital disorder inventory-6 and impact of incontinence inquiry form at the clinical evaluation perioperatively and 6 months after the operation. Data analysis of the study was done with the SPSS version 24.0 package program. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for normality analysis. Wilcoxon test was used for the comparisons of preop and postop data. It was considered statistically significant when the P value was below 0.05&#x0D; Results: The study was conducted on 454 patients aged 26-83 years with a mean age of 50.3±10 years. The overall complication rate was 15.9. The rate of those who recovered six months after the operation was 89.6%. The number of daily peds, values of Q-tip test and urinary retention, and scores of questionnaires were significantly reduced after surgery (p=0.001).&#x0D; Conclusions: The TOT operation can be preferred in treating stress incontinence with acceptable success and outcome. The scales of questionnaires successfully determine patient satisfaction with surgical efficacy for SUI.

Measuring Satisfaction with Nursing Care of Patients Admitted in the Medical Wards of the Philippine General Hospital

Objective. The main aim of this study was to determine patient satisfaction with nursing care (PSNC) in the medical wards of the UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) using a valid and reliable locally developed UP-PGH PSNC questionnaire.&#x0D; Methods. The survey utilized a cross-sectional study design and was conducted in the medical wards of the UP-PGH in 2006. A total of 237 patients were included in the survey.Results. Over a third or 34.3% (95% CI 28%, 40%) and 35% (95% CI 26%, 44%) were highly satisfied with their experience regarding the nurses’ caring attitude and the nurses’ skill/competence respectively. Fewer respondents were highly satisfied with the nurses as information providers, with only 17.2% (95% CI 12%, 22%) saying they were highly satisfied. A little over half or 57.8% (95% CI 52%, 64%) were highly satisfied in the overall evaluation of care.Conclusion. The patients were satisfied with the nursing care provided in two dimensions: The nurse as a caring person and the nurse as a skilled and competent healthcare provider, although only about a third indicated that they were highly satisfied. Nevertheless, 57.8% were highly satisfied in the overallevaluation of care, but these patients may have considered other hospital services and cost. Other factors that might affect patient satisfaction need to be explored and the use of other evaluation tools to augment these findings is recommended.

Gambaran Umum Penggunaan Lean Six Sigma Pada Manajemen Obat di RS

The hospital pharmacy installation is an important unit in the hospital that is responsible for pharmaceutical activities. Pharmacy is the last unit and one of the important parts that determine patient satisfaction, to improve the service process in operations management, the method that can be used is lean six sigma to help improve service quality and patient satisfaction by minimizing errors and waiting times through organizing and managing the hospital management system. The purpose of this study is to identify an overview of the use of lean six sigma in drug management in hospitals. This research method is a literature review study with the search engine used in literature searches, namely google scholar according to the keywords of the topic to be studied, namely lean six sigma methods, hospital drug management, lean six sigma implementation, the criteria for articles used are based on publications published between 2019 and 2023. The results showed that there is waste in drug/pharmacy management in hospitals. The problems related to pharmacy include too long waiting times, overprocessing of drug prescriptions, and waste of motion in file searches. SIMRS error, lack of trained human resources, uncertainty of drug prices, still done manually are triggers for the occurrence of worthless processes. Waste reduction can be done with the lean six sigma method which can fix problems that often occur in pharmaceutical installations by being applied through standardized calculations.

Patients' perspectives on optimal doctor-patient interactions during medical consultation: Lessons for medical educators.

Perceptions of patients of the nature and quality of the interaction with their doctors during consultation are potentially an important factor determining patient satisfaction and doctors' success. Failure by medical doctors to understand how patients perceive them or what patients desire from them may hinder the establishment of strong, trust-based doctor-patient relationships. The purpose of this study was to explore the health service users' views in a region of Botswana on what constitutes optimal doctor-patient interaction during consultation and propose recommendations for integration into medical education curricula. A purposive sample of 12 individuals was selected in a setting where health and well-being are underpinned by principles of interdependence and interpersonal connections (botho/ubuntu philosophy) for semi-structured interviews using the critical incident technique to elicit desired behaviors and actions of medical doctors during consultation. The participants described their good and bad consultation experiences with medical doctors. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes, derived from 11 codes, were identified from the data: conversational skills (welcoming and focused), interpersonal skills (humane, respectful, empathetic, unprejudiced, and personal), and professional traits (humble, trustworthy, thorough, and empowering). Many expressed desires or expectations correspond with humanistic attributes described in the literature, suggesting their universal value. More importantly, the desires and expectations align with the principles of the Bantu philosophy of botho/ubuntu. Accordingly, educators should intentionally provide learning opportunities for students to promote the development of the desired attributes that enhance an effective doctor-patient relationship but should employ culturally relevant pedagogy.

Patient Satisfaction Level with Self-Medication Services by Pharmacists During The CoviD-19 Pandemic in Rembang District, Central Java, indonesia

Self-medication is a person's effort to treat symptoms of illness or disease that arise independently without consulting and taking treatment to a doctor. The purpose of this study was to determine patient satisfaction with self-medication services by pharmacists at pharmacies during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Rembang District. This research is a quantitative descriptive observational research with a cross sectional research design. To find out satisfaction with service quality, we used the service quality approach with SERVQUAL (service quality) questionnaire. SERVQUAL measures the difference between customer expectations and perceived service quality based on five dimensions of service quality, namely reliability, responsivenes, empathy, assurance, and tangible evidence. The research instrument used was a validated questionnaire and the research respondents were self-medicated patients who met the inclusion criteria of the study. Data collection was carried out in March-May 2021 in Rembang District, Central Java. Obtained 100 patients who have met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that the mean gap score was (-0.15 ± 0.086). The level of dissatisfaction in the five service dimensions were follows assurance (-0.27), reliability (-0.22), tangible (-0.12), empathy (-0.08), and responsiveness (-0.04) with a statistically siginificant difference value is service reliability (0.019) and assurance (0.021) &lt;0.05. The patient satisfaction level with self-medication services by pharmacists at the Rembang District pharmacy as a whole was 96%. The conclusion in this study was the level of patient satisfaction was satisfying.

Patient Satisfaction With Quality of Care at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background The emergency department (ED) is the first contact of many individuals who require acute health services. This study was the first to be conducted among patients in different regions of Saudi Arabia to determine patient satisfaction with emergency healthcare services using the Arabic version of theEchelle de Qualité des Soins en Hospitalisation (EQS-H). Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,997 patients admitted to the ED in different hospitals in different regions of Saudi Arabia. The study was based on a self-reported questionnaire validated to assess the satisfaction of patients with ED healthcare services calledEQS-H. In this study, we used an Arabic version of the questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using R version 3.6.3. Results The study was conducted among 2,997 patients (36.7% males and 63.3% females). Regarding region, respondents from the central region represented one-third of the sample (31.7%), followed by respondents from the western, eastern, and southern regions (24.1%, 16.9%, and 14.6%, respectively). Statistical analysis showed that the average percentage score for the clarity of information was significantly higher in the central region than in other regions and was lowest in the eastern region. Individuals aged 26-35 years (B = -2.54 and P < 0.05), male sex (B = -1.63 and P < 0.05), Saudis (B = -3.81 and P < 0.05), longer ED length of stay (LOS) (B = -2.19 and P < 0.001), worse perceived health state, and lower life satisfaction scale scores were significantly associated with lower levels of satisfaction with ED services. Perceived improvement is the strongest predictor of satisfaction. Conclusion Moderate satisfaction levels were reported in both the clarity of information domain and relationship with staff domain among patients admitted to EDs in different regions of Saudi Arabia, with better results in the central region.

Analysis of Service Quality on Patient Satisfaction Using the Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) Method (Case Study: UPT Puskesmas Stabat Lama)

The Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) method functions as a method to measure and determine patient satisfaction which is considered important by patients and received by patients and prioritizes improving service quality. The use of IPA at UPT Stabat Lama Health Center is to measure the satisfaction of services received by patients. There are 5 dimensions used in this study, namely physical evidence, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. This study has 30 valid attributes that are asked of patients. Based on the quadrant analysis, 2 attributes were obtained that needed improvement from the Stabat Lama Health Center UPT. The Wilcoxon Marked Level Test serves to identify differences in the quality of service expected by patients and in reality. Based on these results it was concluded that there was a high difference between the quality of service expected by the patient and the reality, which was 6.292.

Satisfaction toward Quality of Care and Associated Factors among Patients Admitted to Gambella General Hospital, Gambella Region, Southwest Ethiopia

Background. Patient satisfaction, the concept continues to become a crucial and commonly used indicator in the sector of health care delivery for determining the quality of health care services. Satisfaction is a highly desirable outcome of clinical care and may even be an element of health status itself. Therefore, a patient’s expression of satisfaction or dissatisfaction can be considered as a judgement on the quality of care in all of its aspects, whatever its strengths and weakness. Objective. The aim of the study is to determine patient satisfaction on the quality of care and associated factors among patients admitted in Gambella General Hospital, Gambella region, southwest Ethiopia, 2020. Methods. A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted, and a consecutive sampling technique was used to recruit 271 study subjects among patients admitted to Gambella General Hospital. All patients who stayed at least for five days and were discharged from inpatient wards were considered for this study. A semistructured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were entered to Epi-data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS V21 for analysis. Binary logistic regression models were fitted to determine statistically significant associations between dependent and independent variables, and multivariable logistic regression with an AOR with a 95% confidence interval was fitted for candidate variables in binary logistic regression, and statistical significance was declared at p value &lt; 0.05. Result. The proportion of net patient satisfaction among the total of 271 respondents was 40.2% (95% CI: 34.36–46.04%). Being government employees (AOR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02–0.27), availability signs and direction indicators (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.18–5.54), provision of adequate information on the treatments (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.18–5.44), getting provider’s attention (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.65–7.24), and understanding of specific patient needs and concerns (AOR = 6.04, 95% CI: 2.8–12.88) were found to be significant predicators of patient satisfaction on the quality of care. Conclusion. Less than half of the patients were satisfied with the quality of service delivered in the wards of the hospital. Occupation, signs and directions to follow, getting adequate information about treatment, providers’ attention, and understanding of specific needs and concerns of the patients were the significant factors. Thus, we would recommend that the hospital management should closely work together with health professionals, supportive staff, patients, and other concerned stakeholders to improve admitted patients’ satisfaction with the quality of care. Policymakers advised to develop and institutionalize better interpersonal relations in the health system.

Young Patients’ Satisfaction Following the Correction of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis in Saudi Arabia: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Posterior spinal instrumented fusion remains the mainstay treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with acceptable post-operative patient satisfaction. However, in Saudi Arabia, patient satisfaction after surgical management for AIS has not been thoroughly studied. The purpose of this study was to determine patient satisfaction and quality of life using the Scoliosis Research Society-22r (SRS-22r, the most recent version) questionnaire after surgical correction of AISin Saudi Arabia. A retrospective study was conducted that includedpatients who underwent posterior spinal instrumented fusion for AIS from January 1995 through December 2015. We included 115 patients (both males and females) in our study.We used the Arabic version of the SRS-22r questionnaire that was completed through telephonic interviews. Data collected were then analyzed using SPSS Statistics, version 23. The mean age of our patients at the time of surgery was 15.0 ± 2.6 years and the average time from surgery to interview was 9.4 ± 4.7 years. A positive response was recorded in all domains including pain, function, mental health, and self-image. Furthermore, 76.5% of the patients were satisfied with their management outcome and 81.7% of the patients reported no complications. Surgical correction of AIS improved the quality of life of our patients that was assessed using the Arabic version of the SRS-22r questionnaire. Apart from overall patient satisfaction, positive responses were recorded in all four domains of the SRS-22r questionnaire.

PO075 / #520 TREATMENT SATISFACTION AMONG PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL TREMOR FOLLOWING MR-GUIDED FOCUSED ULTRASOUND THALAMOTOMY: E-POSTER VIEWING

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy is a relatively new surgical intervention for essential tremor (ET). While MRgFUS thalamotomy effectively reduces tremor, little research has evaluated patients’ satisfaction with the treatment. This study aimed to elucidate the factors that determine patient satisfaction with MRgFUS thalamotomy, including whether treatment goals are achieved.

Patient Satisfaction with Clinical Laboratory Services in Public Health Sector Hospitals of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

Objectives: To determine patient satisfaction and factors affecting patient satisfaction with laboratory services in Azad Jammu &amp; Kashmir (AJK).&#x0D; Study Design: Cross-sectional study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Seven District Headquarter Hospitals, DHQ Neelum, DHQ Hattian Bala, DHQ Pallandari, DHQ Bagh, DHQ Kotli, DHQ Bhimber and DHQ Mirpur, Kashmir Pakistan from Dec 2019 to Feb 2020.&#x0D; Methodology: The patients who were referred from the Outdoor Patient Department of the hospital for undergoing investigative tests were included, and patients of age less than 18 and critically ill patients were excluded.&#x0D; Results: The total number of respondents included in the study was 400, with the median score of patient satisfaction with laboratory services being 59 (19), ranging from 32 to 100. Statistically significant disparities in client satisfaction were observed in different DHQ hospitals (p-value=0.01) with Mirpur (63) and Pallandri (40) showing the extreme variation. Residential area, age, and education level were also identified as statistically significant determinants of patient satisfaction (p-value &lt;0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion: patient satisfaction with laboratory services in public hospitals of AJK was very low, and targeted strategies are needed to improve the overall quality of these services.

Identifying Patient Satisfaction Determinants in Hemodialysis Settings: A Systematic Review.

PurposePatient satisfaction is a measure of care quality that assists providers in determining the effectiveness of their services while meeting patients’ expectations. This study aimed to review existing studies that have focused on patients’ satisfaction determinants in Hemodialysis (HD) settings.MethodsElectronic databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were searched from 2000 onwards to identify studies using search terms related to patient satisfaction and hemodialysis centers. Article review was limited to studies written in English. A total of 19 articles were included by following the PRISMA statement. Data were extracted using a structured form and summarized in a tabular format to identify different determinants that showed a relationship with patient satisfaction. Determinants were classified into provider-related determinants and patient-related characteristics.ResultsProvider-related determinants of patient satisfaction in HD centers include staff, facility, service, and treatment. Patient-related characteristics associated with satisfaction include demographics and health status history. Based on this systematic review, key correlates of patient satisfaction in hemodialysis centers include: staff, facility, service, treatment, patient’s demographics, and health status.ConclusionThe findings of this study can help healthcare facilities in taking measures in line with the specified determinants to enhance patient satisfaction and improve the organizational performance of the healthcare centers. It is important to constantly study and improve these determinants based on patient feedback to improve patient satisfaction and quality of care.

The relationship between emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, and performance: a test of the mediating role of job satisfaction

PurposeThis paper examines the effect of job satisfaction on job performance among physicians in Iraq's public hospitals. It also determines the mediating role of job satisfaction on the relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance. It further unveils the mediating role of job satisfaction on the nexus between transformational leadership and job performance. As physicians form the bulk of health-care professionals, their performance at work is crucial in determining patient satisfaction regarding care quality.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach with structural equation modelling via partial least squares (PLS-SEM) and bootstrapping estimation was used to test the hypotheses developed. A total of 157 responses were utilized in the data analysis.FindingsEvidence from the study indicates that job satisfaction has a positive relationship with job performance. The study also provides evidence that job satisfaction plays a positive mediating role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance. Similarly, job satisfaction has a positive mediating effect on the nexus between transformational leadership and job performance among physicians in Iraq's public hospitals.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relationship between physician job satisfaction and job performance in Iraqi public hospitals. Studies using Eastern samples are scarce, so the findings of this study will add to the body of knowledge from a cross-cultural standpoint.

EP-29 The prevalence of a small occult umbilical hernia during the trans-umbilical approach in general laparoscopic surgery

Abstract Aims The aim of this study was to firstly determine the prevalence of a small occult umbilical hernia during the trans-umbilical incision technique in general laparoscopic surgery. Secondly, to determine patient satisfaction with post-operative pain and cosmesis. Methods This was a prospective study of 128 patients who underwent a trans-umbilical incision during general laparoscopic surgery by a single surgeon between January 2020 and July 2021. Demographic data, type of surgery, presence of small occult umbilical hernia, time to gain access and time of incision closure were obtained from the operation note. Following the procedure each patient was contacted via telephone and asked questions regarding, post-operative pain, surgical site infection, post-operative complications and cosmetic satisfaction. Results Of the 128 patients within the study, 57.8% were female with a mean age of 44.4 years and a BMI of 26.6 kg/m2. The most common operation performed was laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 51.6% of patients. 62.5% of patients were found to have the presence of a small occult umbilical hernia with a mean of 1.1 minutes to gain access and 6 minutes to close incision. Approximately, 80% of patients stated that post-operative pain experienced was as or less than expected. All patients were satisfied with scar cosmesis. Conclusion Well over half of patients were found to have a naturally occurring small umbilical hernia that could make gaining access to the abdominal cavity via a trans-umbilical incision easier, quicker and safer. As well as excellent patient satisfaction with regards to scar cosmesis and lower than expected post-operative pain scores.