On evaluating patient satisfaction: methodological issues.

The survey of patient satisfaction with the mental health services provided is recommended but involves a methodological dilemma. Concerns include a definition problem, the delineation of a representative sample, the selection of a survey technique and the type of questions to be used. A literature review and the authors' own experience with the process are presented. The investigation of patient satisfaction while, as yet, limited in the critical information it can provide for the evaluation of services, will help pinpoint areas where the most patient dissatisfaction exists. The process can also be useful therapeutically, but patient satisfaction, although an important outcome measure, is not systematically related to other measures of treatment success. Methodological suggestions to improve the validity of the data gathered conclude the paper.