An Initial Examination of Parent Satisfaction Following Intensive Rehabilitation for Pediatric Chronic Pain

The purpose of this research was to examine global judgment of satisfaction with an intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment (IIPT) program for adolescents. The program combined inpatient and day hospital care and was designed to assist adolescents with chronic pain that interferes with their normal activities. Parents of 125 predominantly high school-age patients treated in the program anonymously completed a satisfaction survey shortly after discharge. The survey included 29 Likert scale items reflecting different aspects of the program and three open-ended questions regarding patient experience. The majority of parents (64% to 95%) rated the seven aspects of the IIPT “good” to “very good.” The admission process was the most highly rated aspect of the program, followed by ratings of both the treatment team and inclusion of the persons served. Clear themes emerged in parents’ open-ended responses, with the most frequent comments focused on specific program components/services, patient outcomes, and the helpfulness of staff. Parents’ recommendations suggested clear directions for specific quality improvement efforts. The most frequent request was for more of the services offered. The next highest were recommendations focused on improving the food served to patients and the need for more assistance with postdischarge planning. This research provides an example of the potential for using a mixed methods study to improve clinical care.