Patient satisfaction and staff perception of a vitreoretinal pre-assessment clinic: A pilot study

Patient satisfaction and staff perception of a vitreoretinal pre-assessment clinic: A pilot study

Rita Mclauchlan MA, BSc, DipN, RGN, ENB-346, Vitreoretinal Nurse Specialist

This article discusses the findings of a pilot study carried out to examine patient satisfaction and staff perceptions of the Vitreoretinal (VR) Pre-assessment Clinic at a specialist hospital in the north west of England. Focus group interviews and self-completion questionnaires were used to collect data.

Results suggest that whilst there was collective agreement within the focus group that preparing patients before surgery was necessary, management issues including allocation of staff and sufficient time to carry out the patient’s assessment needed to be addressed. Results also suggest that although patients were satisfied with the service provided, the quality of information given by the nurses needed to be reconsidered.