Level of Parental Satisfaction Grade with Attending Care in Paediatric Wards – Impact of COVID-19

Background/Objective: The quality of paediatric medical services provided is determinant for the welfare and final outcome. The satisfaction grade is an important item of quality assessment systems. The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a new challenge.

The aim was to evaluate the satisfaction grade of caregivers in paediatric wards and understand the impact caused by COVID-19.

Methods: This is an observational study based on anonymous and optional questionnaires applied to all caregivers of hospitalizations between January 2018 and September 2020. We evaluated the satisfaction grade given to the medical, nursing and operating assistant teams and the physical conditions of paediatric wards.

Results: A total of 847 questionnaires were filled (238 in 2018, 475 in 2019 and 134 in 2020).

In 2019 and 2018, the parameters with the highest satisfaction degree were service at admission (85.3% and 86.1% respectively) and information provided to parents (80.3% in 2019, 83.6 % in 2018). The wards conditions showed the lower satisfaction degree.

In 2020, the parameters with the highest satisfaction degree were the attending provided by nursing team (95.5%), operational assistant (88.8%) and medical team (86.6%). The parameter with the lowest satisfaction degree was the wards conditions.

As for the suggestions, the most frequently was the improvement of the means of entertainment (such access to television and internet), the meals and better general conditions in the wards.

Conclusion: In 2020, the number of questionnaires was smaller and that may have influenced the results.

In recent years, there has been an improvement of parental satisfaction degree and the COVID-19 pandemic seems to not be negatively influencing the experience.

The continuous improvement of care quality plays a major role in patient satisfaction.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions this should not be forgotten, because its importance remains primordial but, sometimes, it’s much more difficult to fulfil.