Abstract
Background
Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) is prescribed for patients with serious infections requiring prolonged therapy. Most patients requiring OPAT are discharged either home with home healthcare companies (HHCs) or to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Few data are available regarding patient experiences in these different sites of care.
Objectives
(1) Compare overall patient satisfaction with OPAT care across the SNF and HHC settings; (2) Identify barriers to patient satisfaction in OPAT; and (3) Develop a model for OPAT patient satisfaction that can help programs improve the patient experience across both sites of care.
Methods
We developed and administered a patient experience survey to 100 patients returning to a single clinic for follow up. The survey consisted of 15 items (Likert scale, multiple choice, and free text responses). Patient characteristics and responses to the survey for patients who received care at home and at SNFs were analyzed and compared.
Results
Of the 100 patients surveyed, 98 completed the survey. Overall, HHC patients were more satisfied with their care than patients in SNFs, with a greater proportion stating they would recommend the site to others (71.7% for HHC and 32.7% for SNFs, p<0.01). Patients in SNFs had a larger number of complaints about lapses in medical care, infection prevention, and the physical environment than HHC patients.
Conclusion
OPAT patient satisfaction is higher for home infusion than SNFs. In order to improve the patient experience, OPAT programs need to engage stakeholders in HHCs and SNFs to improve communication and care delivery.
Protocol for a randomised crossover trial to evaluate patient and nurse satisfaction with electronic and elastomeric portable infusion pumps for the continuous administration of antibiotic therapy in the home: the Comparing Home Infusion Devices (CHID) study
