The Effect of Emergency Explanation System Modified from Medical Check-up Form

Seong,  Tae Young; Kim,  Hahn Bom; Park,  Sang Hyun; Park,  Keun Hong; Oh,  Su Bin; Choi,  Han Zo; Lim,  Kwang Phil

J Korean Soc Emerg Med > Volume 25(1); 2014 > Article

Original Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2014;25(1): 90-102.

The Effect of Emergency Explanation System Modified from Medical Check-up Form

Tae Young Seong, Hahn Bom Kim, Sang Hyun Park, Keun Hong Park, Su Bin Oh, Han Zo Choi, Kwang Phil Lim

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. hahnbom@daum.net
²Department of Emergency Medicine, St.Carollo Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:
This study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of a newly developed explanation handout in the emergency department (ED) between patient and guardian.
METHODS:
From August 24, 2013 to September 24, 2013, interviews were conducted to patient accompanying guardian, discharged from Seoul Medical Center ED. Four groups were divided according to non-handout or handout in addition to patient or guardian. Each group consisted of 50 candidates and allocated according to a random table. The explanation handout could be easily applicable automatically through the Electronic Medical Record. It contains the results of laboratory tests along with cautions by diagnosis. After discharge explanation, a survey was conducted in each group using questionnaires for evaluation of the effect on medical service satisfaction.
RESULTS:
A total of 97 candidates(49 patients, 48 guardians) in the non-handout group, and 99 candidates(50 patients, 49 guardians) in the handout group were enrolled. No statistical difference in epidemiology, except explanation time, was observed between the two groups. The handout group showed a higher score in all factors, however, explanation by physician (p<0.001), mean 3.61(+/-0.72) to 3.87(+/-0.73), understanding of medical status (p<0.001), mean 3.51(+/-0.75) to 4.11(+/-0.71), medical evaluation and treatment (p=0.001), mean 3.59(+/-0.72) to 3.92(+/-0.75), kindness of physician (p<0.001), mean 3.74(+/-0.81) to 4.09(+/-0.67), overall satisfaction (p<0.001), mean 3.60(+/-0.75) to 3.97(+/-0.75), willingness of revisit (p=0.023), mean 3.87(+/-0.73) to 4.09(+/-0.61), and willingness of recommendation (p<0.001), mean 3.66(+/-0.82) to 4.09(+/-0.66) showed statistically meaningful results. In a sub-analysis, statistically meaningful results were reanalyzed between patient and guardian. In the non-handout group, guardian showed higher scores in mean value in all factors, however, statistically meaningful results were observed for all factors, except understanding of medical status and medical evaluation and treatment. By application of the handout, 99 patients and 97 guardians showed higher scores in mean value in all factors. Patients showed statistically meaningful results in all factors but just in understanding of medical status in guardian.
CONCLUSION:
Results of this study showed that the explanation handout effectively increased medical service satisfaction. The effect of the explanation handout was more prominent in patients than guardians.

Key words: Emergency Medical Service, Patient Satisfaction, Questionnaire