The relationship between in-hospital information and patient satisfaction after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND

Rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) presupposes that patients are provided with sufficient information and education to cope with the consequences of the disease. Furthermore, patient information is an important premise for patient satisfaction.

AIMS

To explore and describe the relationship between received information and satisfaction with health care after AMI. In addition, we wanted to describe areas for improvement of patients' health care.

METHODS

A questionnaire comprising 1) the Information Questionnaire and 2) the Patient Experience Questionnaire was sent to AMI patients, 6 weeks after discharge from hospital. One hundred and eleven patients participated.

RESULTS

In general patients were highly satisfied with their health care and the more information the patient reported to receive, the more satisfied he/she was with the hospital stay. Patients were least satisfied with information about medication and possible future problems. These were the areas that patients received least information about and were also identified as the areas with greatest potential for improvement. Amount of information received was not associated to length of hospital stay. Although, younger patients reported receiving more information than older patients during the hospital stay, it was the youngest that missed information after discharge.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that it is necessary to examine the current provision of in-hospital information and education to AMI patients. Patients want more information at discharge and after returning home.