Examining satisfaction of older adult patients and their caregivers following traumatic injury: a cross-sectional study of three level I trauma centres

ObjectiveTo explore satisfaction of care received by older adult patients and their primary caregivers following traumatic injury.DesignProspective, cross-sectional study using the FAMCARE (Family Satisfaction with Advanced Cancer Care Scale) satisfaction surveys prior to discharge.SettingThree level I trauma centres in Colorado from November 2016 to December 2017.ParticipantsTrauma patients ≥55 years old and their primary caregivers.Outcome measuresOverall mean (SD) satisfaction, satisfaction ResultsOf the 319 patients and 336 caregivers included, the overall mean (SD) patient satisfaction was 81.7% (15.0%) and for caregivers was 83.6% (13.4%). The area with the highest mean for patient and caregiver satisfaction was psychosocial care (85.4% and 86.9%, respectively). Information giving was the lowest for patients (80.4%) and caregivers (80.9%). When individual items were examined, patients were significantly more satisfied with ‘availability of nurses to answer questions’ (84.5 (15.3) vs 87.4 (14.8), p=0.02) and significantly less satisfied with ‘speed with which symptoms were treated’ (80.6 (17.9) vs 84.0 (17.0), p=0.03) compared with caregivers. Patients with a history of smoking (least squares mean difference: −0.096 (−0.18 to –0.07), pConclusionsOur data suggest that patients’ medical history was driving both patient and caregiver satisfaction. Patient characteristics and expectations need to be considered when tailoring healthcare interventions.