Characterizing patient care experience among adults with lower extremity trauma

Background: The subjective experience of receiving surgical care is an important aspect of health care delivery. We aimed to characterize the care experience following traumatic lower extremity injury using patient-reported experience measures validated for this population. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients with lower extremity trauma completed the LIMB-Q Satisfaction with Decision, Satisfaction with Information, and Satisfaction with Health Care Professional scales (scored 0–100, greater is better). We collected demographic, clinical, and patient-reported outcome data. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify independent predictors of LIMB-Q scores. Results: We collected data from 645 patients. Their mean age was 42 years (SD 17 years), and 62% were cisgender men. Patients reported high satisfaction with their surgeon (Mean=91 [SD 14]) but less satisfaction with how decisions were made regarding their care (Mean=74 [SD 26]) and the information they received about their care (Mean=70 [SD 21]). Each decade after injury was associated with a mean 4.8-point reduction in Satisfaction with Decision score (95% CI −0.74,−0.22). Education level was inversely associated with Satisfaction with Information (p=0.03). Compared to cisgender men, transgender and nonbinary patients reported less satisfaction with treatment decisions (mean difference [MD]=−27; 95% CI −46,−7.5) and health care professionals (MD=−30; 95% CI −55,−5.1). Compared to White patients, Asian or Pacific Islander patients reported lower satisfaction with health care professionals (MD=−19; 95% CI −36,−1.8) and treatment decisions (MD=−17; 95% CI −29,−3.7). Conclusions: Patients with lower extremity trauma reported high levels of satisfaction with surgeons, but less satisfaction with treatment decisions and information. Satisfaction varied with demographic factors.