Information and its impact on satisfaction among surgical patients

This study investigates the association between patient characteristics, re ported problems with obtaining information and global evaluations of care a mong surgical patients. Using data from a large scale study of hospital car e, a factor analysis of 30 information-relevant items was conducted with da ta from a sample of 3602 surgical patients; and correlation and multiple re gression analyses were conducted to identify the relationships among inform ation, patient characteristics and global evaluations of care. Path analysi s was also used to determine the extent to which perceived control mediates the information-evaluation relationship. Four information factors were ide ntified: surgical information, recovery information, general information an d sensory information, and each was significantly related to global evaluat ions. Desire for involvement interacted with information received in determ ining patients' evaluations; and partial support was found for perceived co ntrol as a mediator of the information-evaluation link. The data indicate t hat the relationship between information and evaluations of quality is gene ralizable across patients, conditions and hospitals; and should be defined more broadly to include that which is given by a variety of providers, to f amily, and about medications and home recovery. Desire for involvement and perceived control must also be considered in understanding the value and im pact of information. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.