Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30404644›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2018

Key nodes affecting patient satisfaction in a cross-regional referral service process: an empirical analysis study in Sichuan.

Xinli Zhang, Tianjin Wang, Yu Yu, Shuzhen Zhao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. A Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of Decision Support Systems for Healthcare Referral Strategies.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
    Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Xinli ZhangBusiness School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
Tianjin WangBusiness School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
Yu YuBusiness School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
Shuzhen ZhaoWest China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. ssszszzsz@126.com.

Funding

Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province (CN) 2018SZ0398Health and Family Planning Commission of Sichuan Province 18PJ266Sichuan University 2018hhs-54
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe referral service is a significant component of healthcare reform in China, and the measurement of patient satisfaction with the referral service process will help to improve the quality of referral medical delivery. Furthermore, the referral service in China includes inter-institutional collaborations between hospitals at different levels and multi-nodes throughout the referral process. It is therefore necessary to identify the key nodes that affect patient satisfaction during the referral service process.

methodsThis study conducted a questionnaire survey of 110 patients to collect data regarding patient satisfaction at the following healthcare nodes: primary-level hospital, referral appointment registration, claim of appointment number in the outpatient department, examination service, admission service, and overall satisfaction during the referral service process. Correlation analysis and logistic regression methods were used to establish a mathematical model of patient satisfaction between five nodes and overall satisfaction. Additionally, a peak-end model was formed to identify the peak node impacting overall patient satisfaction during the referral service based on the sample data.

resultsOver 80% of referral patients rated the overall referral service as 'good'. The correlation analysis revealed that there was a significant correlation between the satisfaction of each node and the overall satisfaction (P < 0.05). The results of the regression model showed that the satisfaction of five nodes determined the overall satisfaction and that "admission service at the higher-level hospital" exerted the greatest impact on overall satisfaction (β = 0.312), while "referral appointment registration" had the lowest influence on overall satisfaction (β = 0.177). The peak-end model also revealed that "admission service at the higher-level hospital" had a greater effect on overall satisfaction.

conclusionOur study showed that the key nodes affecting patient satisfaction were "transferring service at the primary-level hospital" and "admission service at the higher-level hospital". Furthermore, the efficacy of the referral services is determined by the gatekeepers' management of the referral system at the primary-level hospital and the allocation and management of bed resources at the higher-level hospital. These findings can serve as a science-based guidance for them to improve their performance in inter-regional healthcare collaborations in the referral service process.

Indexed as

Appointments and SchedulesChinaCross-Sectional StudiesHealth Care ReformHospitalsHumansOutpatientsPatient SatisfactionReferral and ConsultationSurveys and QuestionnairesLogistic regressionPeak-end ruleReferral serviceSatisfaction

Identifiers

PMID30404644
PMCPMC6223049

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.