Korean J Intern Med.  2010 Dec;25(4):392-398. 10.3904/kjim.2010.25.4.392.

Influence of Additional Post-Bronchoscopy Visit on Patient Satisfaction after Flexible Bronchoscopy

• Park JS
• Ryu JS
• Lee SM
• Yim JJ
• Yoo CG
• Kim YW
• Han SK
• Shim YS
• Yang SC

• KMID: 964720
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2010.25.4.392

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Many patients undergoing a flexible bronchoscopy (FB) experience anxiety and discomfort during the procedure. We assessed whether an additional patient visit after a FB would improve patient satisfaction.
METHODS
The study patients were randomly assigned to a control and post-visit groups. The physicians who were scheduled to perform the FB visited the study patients. The control group had one visit before the FB and the post-visit group had a before and after FB visit. The post-visit group received additional information and support during the second visit. Twenty-four hours after the FB, the participants completed questionnaires about discomfort and satisfaction with the procedure.
RESULTS
The control and post-visit groups included 151 and 153 patients, respectively. The post-visit group reported having more information after the FB than the control group. The additional post-bronchoscopy visit improved the general patient tolerability of the procedure. The willingness to return for another FB was not affected by the post-bronchoscopy patient visit.
CONCLUSIONS
The post-bronchoscopy visit improved patient satisfaction and general tolerability to the procedure. Subjective patient tolerability with the FB may be improved through a post-bronchoscopy visit by providing more information and emotional support to patients.

Keyword

Bronchoscopy; Patients; Personal satisfaction

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Bronchoscopy/*psychology
Emotions
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
*Patient Satisfaction
Prospective Studies