Impact of actual waiting time and perceived waiting time on treatment satisfaction in patients receiving outpatient diabetes care.

AIMS

We investigated the impact of actual waiting time and perceived waiting time on treatment satisfaction in patients with diabetes receiving outpatient care.

METHODS

Three hundred and thirty-six outpatients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance were selected and the time they spent in reception, blood collection, consultation, and accounting were recorded to measure the time they spent waiting in the hospital (actual waiting time). Simultaneously, we conducted a questionnaire survey that included questions on their perceptions of the waiting time (perceived waiting time) and satisfaction with treatment (DTSQ).

RESULTS

No significant relationship was found between actual waiting time and DTSQ score, although associations were observed with perceived waiting time. The patients who felt the overall waiting time was long scored 23.0, those who felt it was short scored 26.0, and those who felt it was very short scored 34.0, with those who felt the waiting time was long having a significantly lower score ( = 0.004,  < 0.001, respectively) and those who felt it was short having a significantly lower score than those who felt it was very short ( = 0.008). In addition, more patients who felt the waiting time was long expressed dissatisfaction with the responses of doctors and staff than those who felt the waiting time was short.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that in addition to reducing actual waiting times, shortening perceived waiting times by improving the responses of medical staff could help to increase patient satisfaction.