Satisfaction with the multidisciplinary treatment team: A predictor of hemodialysis patient compliance

Background. Previous research has demonstrated a positive relation between healthcare satisfaction and compliance with treatment recommendations. Overall, the behavior of the healthcare provider can influence patient compliance and the resulting health outcome. However, the relation between patient satisfaction and compliance with the hemodialysis (HD) regimen has not been recently examined. Because of the dialysis patient's frequent and extensive interaction with a multidisciplinary staff, the association of satisfaction with each of these relationships and subsequent compliance appear to be important healthcare issues. Methods. This study evaluated the ability of the Multidisciplinary Hemodialysis Patient Satisfaction Scale (MHPSS) to predict subsequent compliance in 209 HD patients. It was hypothesized that patient satisfaction would be predictive of subsequent compliance with the HD regimen. Results. Satisfaction with those healthcare providers (e.g., dietitian, nurse, technician) most active in assessing or modifying treatment behaviors was related to compliance. However a significant correlation between satisfaction and compliance was found only for fluid gain, and this correlation was negative. Specifically, patients who were more satisfied with their overall healthcare were less likely to comply with fluid restrictions. Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that individual subscales of satisfaction that measure the role of various healthcare providers may be equal, if not better, predictors of patient behavior than are global satisfaction ratings. The predictive ability of the subscale scores also highlighted the differential influence of the treatment team on compliance. Future studies of satisfaction and compliance should focus on the roles of all healthcare providers rather than only the attending physician.