What do Patients Want? Correlates of Patient Satisfaction and Treatment Engagement

Abstract

Introduction

Motivation and ability to engage with treatment may deteriorate or falter if a patient is not satisfied with their protocols or provider. Improving patient satisfaction may more effectively strengthen treatment engagement.

Objectives

1) Determining what patients want from their provider relationship; and 2) identifying means for a provider to effectively assess and evaluate patient satisfaction in relation to treatment engagement.

Methods

A systematic review of published meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and literature reviews between 1996 and 2016 was conducted across three databases (Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL). Using variations of the search terms patient; satisfaction; medication, medical and psychiatric treatment; and engagement/adherence, a total of 1667 articles were identified. After removing duplications, 1582 articles were independently screened for eligibility (e.g. conceptual focus, methodological limitations) by two research assistants, resulting in the final inclusion of 50 meta-analysis, systematic review, or literature review articles that focused on predictors or barriers to patient satisfaction and/or predictors or barriers affecting engagement/adherence.

Results

Barriers and predictors of patient satisfaction centered on two fundamental domains:

– relationship with Provider (sub-factors: multicultural competence, shared decision making, communication skills, continuity of care, empathy) and;

– outcomes (sub-factors: therapeutic outcome, patient expectations).

Eight treatment engagement/adherence barrier and predictor domains were identified, specifically treatment regimens; illness beliefs, emotional/cognitive factors; financial and logistic; social support; symptom/illness characteristics; demographics and patient-provider relationship.

Conclusions

Key findings highlight actions psychiatrists and other clinical providers may consider in addressing barriers and highlighting promoters to improve patient satisfaction and overall engagement and adherence.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.