AAOS: Hospital Satisfaction Following Hip Replacement Surgery Differs by Gender

What are patients looking for from hospital staff following total hip replacement (THR) surgery? If you’re a woman, responsiveness and clear communication from nurses and doctors, according to a new study presented today at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) in San Diego, Calif.; if you’re a man, optimal pain management.
 
“Interestingly, there are differences in perception of care between men and women,” said Michael A. Mont, M.D., study author and chairman of orthopaedic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.
 
Researchers analyzed survey results from 692 patients who had undergone THR between November 2009 and January 2015, in the study. The patients included 277 men (mean age 62) and 414 women (mean age 62).
 
The men and women had comparable mean hospital satisfaction scores, and there were no significant differences in the grading of nurse communication, staff responsiveness, doctor communication, hospital environment, pain management, and communication about medication. However, when patient perception was further analyzed, researchers found a gender bias in the factors that influenced men’s and women’s perceptions of care. Women’s patient satisfaction were most influenced by staff responsiveness, followed by their communication with nurses and doctors. For men, the way their pain was managed had the strongest impact on their overall satisfaction with care.
 
In 2012, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shifted from a fee-for-service to a fee-for-performance model. As a result, patient satisfaction, as measured by surveys such as the one analyzed, partially determines reimbursement rates.

“Overall, patient satisfaction should be the goal of every orthopaedist,” said Anton Khlopas, M.D., one of the study authors. “Focusing efforts based on gender may allow for better patient satisfaction.”
 
With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) is the world’s largest association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals, champions and advances the highest musculoskeletal care for patients, and is the authoritative source of information on bone and joint conditions, treatments, and related issues.