Journal of Patient Care

Abstract

Factors Influencing the Choice of Hospital after Primary Total Hip and Knee Replacement Surgeries

Tom Schaal, Schoenfelder T, Klewer J and Kugler J

Objective: Studies on the overall satisfaction of patients after surgery of primary total hip or knee replacement (THR or TKR) rarely consider factors that influence the choice of a hospital separately, although the need for such studies is sufficiently justified. The aim of this study was to weigh patient expectations in the future choice of a hospital and to study the differences between THR and TKR patients.

Methods: A written survey was conducted of 827 THR and 868 TKR patients at 43 hospitals, after they were discharged. Socio-demographic data were evaluated together with 13 hospital, treatment and service-related criteria, using a six-point scale.

Results: Survey participants considered the quality of the treatment received as the most important factor in their choice of hospital and the recommendations of the hospital in a hospital guide as the least significant factor. On average (grouped median), the relevance of all items surveyed was ranked from less important to extremely important. The responses from THR and TKR patients showed differences only when they were asked to provide information about the planned treatment.

Conclusion: The significant differences between the two treatment groups had no practical relevance based on the underlying medians (5.69 vs. 5.75). Consequently, there were no differences between THR and TKR patients in weighting the different criteria with regard to selecting a hospital. The recommendations indicated can be applied equally to both groups of patients. For example, if patients were to avail of hospital guides or online resources more frequently, patients could choose among hospitals based on the quality of treatment achieved. Therefore, it is recommended that more patients be made aware of this possibility.