Assessing patient satisfaction with a microsuction service in general practice: a comparative study

• Main Authors: Ruairi Hasson, Eoin McDermott, Karena Hanley, Camilla Carroll, Claire Collins
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Royal College of General Practitioners 2019-01-01
• Series: BJGP Open
• Subjects: patient satisfaction; general practice; otolaryngology; cerumen; otitis externa; delivery of health care, integrated
• Online Access: https://bjgpopen.org/content/3/2/bjgpopen19X101649

Background: In the UK, about 2.3 million people each year require intervention for wax impaction, while otitis externa accounts for just over 1% of general practice consultations. Aural microsuction of debris from the ear canal is a commonly performed procedure within the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) outpatient clinic. This article examines the patient acceptability of an aural microsuction service delivered in general practice. Aim: To determine patient satisfaction following the introduction of a new microsuction service in general practice compared with a hospital-delivered service. Design & setting: This is a prospective comparative study in two rural general practices in Ireland and the emergency department (ED) of the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH), Dublin. Method: A 3-month period of data collection on usual care of 56 patients in general practice was followed by a 3-month period of GP-intervention data collection on 67 patients. Comparative data were collected on 37 patients who attended the RVEEH for the same intervention procedure. Patients completed a validated patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ-18). Results: Both general practice groups scored significantly higher in all seven aspects of medical care than the RVEEH cohort. Patients in the GP-intervention group scored significantly higher in terms of satisfaction with procedure technique compared with the usual care GP group. Conclusion: The provision of microsuction as a service in general practice confers as much or more patient satisfaction as the provision of the service in a hospital setting.