How Satisfied are Patients with Interprofessional Teams? Meta-analysis of a Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction

A doctor–patient encounter is a dyadic interaction between two people, one needing help and the other providing it. However, the encounter between an interprofessional team and a patient is changing this picture.

Objectives

To measure how patient satisfaction changes when patients are treated by an interprofessional team.

Aims

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) directly evaluates patient satisfaction when patients interact with interprofessional teams. This research is a before-and-after study of undergraduate health care students undergoing interprofessional education. Answers to questions on a 5-point Likert scale (from “Totally satisfied” to “Totally unsatisfied”) were uploaded online on a survey platform linked to a dedicated app.

Methods

Twenty-nine undergraduate students before, and eight after, interprofessional training reported their evaluation of patient satisfaction with interprofessional teams. Meta-analysis used Tau², Cochrane's Q and I².

Results

Meta-analysis showed a homogeneity in the answers before and after IPE training (P = 0.4) and variability of only I² = 39%, with t² = .006, and Q (4 df) = 4.0. To a certain degree, the study showed a drop before and after in students who report their patients being “moderately satisfied” (from 20.7% to 0%), with C.I. 95% = 4.702 (0.238–92.713) (Fig. 1).

Conclusions

This study requires further inquiry on why a moderate level of patient satisfaction declines when patients are treated by an interprofessional team.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Fig. 1 Meta-analysis of the study before-after in patient's satisfaction.