Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38626240›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

Patient satisfaction and patient accessibility in a small fiber neuropathy diagnostic service in the Netherlands: A single-center, prospective, survey-based cohort study.

Margot Geerts, Janneke G J Hoeijmakers, Brigitte A B Essers, Ingemar S J Merkies, Catharina G Faber, Mariëlle E J B Goossens

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 35% of its field
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

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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

6 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.

Margot GeertsDepartment of Neurology, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-1679-9286
Janneke G J HoeijmakersDepartment of Neurology, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Brigitte A B EssersDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Ingemar S J MerkiesDepartment of Neurology, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Catharina G FaberDepartment of Neurology, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Mariëlle E J B GoossensDepartment of Rehabilitation Research & Department of Clinical Psychological Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Maastricht University · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSmall fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a common cause of neuropathic pain in peripheral neuropathies. Good accessibility of diagnostics and treatment is necessary for an accurate diagnosis and treatment of SFN. Evidence is lacking on the quality performance of the diagnostic SFN service in the Netherlands. Our aim was to determine the patient satisfaction and -accessibility of the diagnostic SFN service, and to identify areas for improvement.

methodsIn a single-center, prospective, survey-based cohort study, 100 visiting patients were asked to fill in the SFN patient satisfaction questionnaire (SFN-PSQ), with 10 domains and 51 items. Cut-off point for improvement was defined as ≥ 25% dissatisfaction on an item. A chi-square test and linear regression analyses was used for significant differences and associations of patient satisfaction.

resultsFrom November 2020 to May 2021, 98 patients with SFN-related complaints filled in the online SFN-PSQ within 20 minutes. In 84% of the patients SFN was confirmed, average age was 55.1 (52.5-57.8) years and 67% was female. High satisfaction was seen in the domains 'Waiting List Period', Chest X-ray', 'Consultation with the Doctor or Nurse Practitioner (NP)', 'Separate Consultation with the Doctor or NP about Psychological Symptoms', and 'General' of the SFN service. Overall average patient satisfaction score was 8.7 (IQR 8-10) on a 1-to-10 rating scale. Main area for improvement was shortening the 8-week period for receiving the results of the diagnostic testing (p < 0.05). General health status was statistically significant associated with patient satisfaction (p < 0.05).

conclusionA good reflection of the high patient satisfaction and -accessibility of the SFN-service is shown, with important points for improvement. These results could help hospitals widely to optimize the logistic and diagnostic pathway of SFN analysis, benchmarking patient satisfaction results among the hospitals, and to improve the quality of care of comparable SFN services.

Indexed as

NeuralgiaSmall Fiber NeuropathyCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMiddle AgedNetherlandsPatient SatisfactionProspective StudiesSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID38626240
PMCPMC11020963
OpenAlexW4394841197

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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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.