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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Aug;128(2):381-386.
doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000001528.

Early Compared With Delayed Physician Rounds on Patient Satisfaction of Postpartum Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Robyn P Roberts  1 , Sean C Blackwell, Kelly M Brown, Claudia Pedroza, Baha M Sibai, Jon E Tyson
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Early Compared With Delayed Physician Rounds on Patient Satisfaction of Postpartum Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Robyn P Roberts et al. Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether delayed timing of physician rounds improves patient satisfaction for postpartum women.

Methods: Women were randomized to early (5-7 AM) or delayed (8-10 AM) physician rounding. Women with stillbirth, high-risk pregnancy, or complications precluding delayed rounding were excluded. At discharge, women completed a modified Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. The primary outcome was rating of the hospital. Secondary outcomes included patient assessment of patient-physician communication, various hospital experiences, and timing of maternal and neonatal discharge. We estimated that 74 women were needed to detect a 20% difference in rating of the hospital (0-10 score) between groups (assumption P=.05, power 90%). Given limited information on primary outcome, an a priori plan was in place to conduct the study for 2 months.

Results: One hundred fifty-two women were randomized (n=76 early rounding; n=76 delayed rounding). More women had a cesarean delivery in the early compared with the delayed rounding group (47.4% compared with 22.4%). Median rating of the hospital was higher in the delayed as compared with the early rounding group (9.0 [7.0-9.0] compared with 7.0 [6.0-8.0]; P<.01). Median scores regarding physician communication and perception of hospital experiences were higher in the delayed compared with the early group (8.0 [7.0-9.0] compared with 6.0 [5.0-7.0]; P<.001). Adjustment for delivery mode did not alter results (P<.01). No differences in timing of maternal (P=.47) or neonatal hospital discharge (P=.35) were observed.

Conclusion: Postpartum women receiving delayed physician rounding were more satisfied with their hospital experience and patient-physician communication without prolonging maternal or neonatal discharge.

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02432573.

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