Seeing the wood for the trees: defining the forgotten concept of patient dissatisfaction in the light of patient satisfaction research
- 1 December 1999
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Emerald in Leadership in Health Services
- Vol. 12 (4), 1-9
- https://doi.org/10.1108/13660759910298707
Abstract
Studies of patient satisfaction are regarded by many as the most important way to obtain patients′ views. To date, relatively few studies have focussed specifically on dissatisfaction. Concerns have been expressed about the validity of the concept of satisfaction. Dissatisfaction, however, has received little attention since it has been assumed to be the opposite of satisfaction and thus already defined. Therefore, a series of assumptions have also been made about dissatisfaction, which may or may not compromise its validity or usefulness. The aim of this review is to clarify the concept of dissatisfaction by examining what studies of patient satisfaction can and cannot tell us about dissatisfaction; identifying assumptions; and finally by suggesting how research might best be oriented to accommodate the complexity of patient experiences.Keywords
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