[Better patient orientation through certified cancer centres in oncological care? Patient satisfaction in breast cancer patients in certified breast cancer centres and noncertified hospitals].

OBJECTIVES

We investigated whether patient satisfaction (including its subdimensions) among breast cancer patients depends on the place of the treatment (certified breast cancer centre vs. noncertified clinics). Furthermore, we examined the impact of patient- and disease-related factors on patient satisfaction.

METHODS

652 breast cancer patients (n = 480 from certified breast cancer centres and n = 172 from noncertified clinics) took part in the study after their hospital stay and completed a questionnaire. Data on patient satisfaction (Hamburger Fragebogen zum Krankenhausaufenthalt, HFK), psychological distress (HADS), as well as sociodemographic and disease-related characteristics were collected.

RESULTS

Regardless of the place of cancer treatment, breast cancer patients reported a high level of satisfaction. There was only one significant difference between the two patient groups in the subdimension "overall judgement" (breast centre: 1.28 vs. noncertified clinic: 1.19; p = 0.017). In the multivariate analysis, the place of treatment had less explanatory power on patient satisfaction than other factors such as psychological distress.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, there were only few differences in patient satisfaction between the two investigated groups of breast cancer patients. This result is discussed in the context of various moderating factors.