Patients’ satisfaction with mental health nursing interventions in the management of anxiety: Results of a questionnaire study

Abstract

Objective: Patients’ satisfaction is a significant indicator of the quality of care provided in a health setting. The purpose ofthis study was to identify aspects of mental health nursing care that are most likely to influence satisfaction with patientswho are experiencing anxiety in two private mental health care setting.

Method: Study design: A survey of a sample of patients in two private mental health hospitals in Sydney, Australia wherepatients were asked to evaluate their overall experience of this episode of care and to complete the Patients’ SatisfactionQuestionnaire on specific aspects of their care for anxiety. Two hundred (200) Questionnaires were left with theparticipants to be completed at discharge, and there were 189 (94%) questionnaires returned.

Results: One hundred and eighty nine patients (189) completed the survey. Representing 94% of respondents theyindicated that they were satisfied with the mental health nurses intervention for their anxiety. There were no significantdifferences found between genders, age groups, marital status, number of admissions and duration of hospitalisations. Amultiple linear regression indicated that the major determinants of patient satisfaction were emotional support and respectfor patient preferences. The results of satisfaction scores demonstrated evidence of construct validity of total scale withtotal mean rating of all domain 3.70 (SD=0.67) and Reliability coefficients for the total scale were .93, however, meanrating for the 5 domains was 3.69 (SD = 0.66).

Conclusions: The finding of this preliminary patients’ satisfaction study suggests that mental health nurses withappropriate education and supervision can provide an effective therapeutic approach to patients who are experiencinganxiety in these two private mental health settings.