Satisfaction of Acute or Chronic Heart Disease Patients with the Provided Health Care in Relation to their stress and Depression Levels

Abstract

Introduction: The acquisition of patients' satisfaction is a definitive factor for the right function of the healthcare system and for that healthcare professionals should recognize and satisfy the needs that arise. Disease contributes an extra burden to patient, that creates insecurity for his/her future, and consequently stress, and in some cases even depression. Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to investigate patients with acute or chronic cardiological disease satisfaction levels with the provided health care in relation to their stress and depression levels. Material and Method: The sample consisted of 153 patients with acute or chronic cardiological disease hospitalised in General Hospital "ppokrateio" of Athens and it was collected during the period 07/2016 to 10/2016. Data collection was performed using the "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)", as well as the Kristjandottir's questionnaire, modified and adjusted to the hospitalised patients’ needs. Significance level was set at 5%. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package version 22 and the t-test, anova, and Pearson correlation tests were used. Results: Most of the participants (62.1%) were men. 47.7% were experiencing normal stress levels, 19,0% low levels, 20,9% medium levels and 12,4% high stress levels. Depression levels were 49.7%, 17.0%, 20.9% and 21.4%, respectively. There were found positive correlations among satisfaction dimentions, (p<0.001), and negative correlations between them and stress (p=0.002), or depression (p<0.001) levels. Men experienced higher stress (p=0.029) and depression (p=0.050) levels , and, as well as older patients, (p<0.001), lonely patients (p=0.006 and p=0.004 respectively), patients whose children were over 25 years old, (p<0.001), patients of first or second grade education background (p<0.001), and patients with another health problem (p=0.026 and p=0.004 respectively). Older patients stated that they received less support (p=0.008), security (p=0,001), and overall satisfaction (p=0,030). The unmarried, divorced and widowed felt less secure (p=0,027), while primary and secondary education level patients had lower satisfaction levels (p=0.024). The same group had less support, (p=0.005), felt less secure, (p=0.002), and had lower overall score at the satisfaction scale (p=0.040). Pensioners, patients occupied with the household and unemployed patients received less support (p=0.036). Conclusions: The satisfaction of hospitalised patients’ needs seems to be directly related to stress and depression's intensity. Moreover, the satisfaction of their needs is affected by socio-demographic factors, as well as clinical ones.