Time-trend analysis on the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient satisfaction among Dutch physiotherapists

Abstract

Aims: This study examined differences in patient satisfaction among patients of Dutch physiotherapists, comparing a period before the COVID-19 pandemic, the years of the pandemic, and after the pandemic. The impact of self-rated health (SRH) and age on patient satisfaction among patients of Dutch physiotherapists is explored, as well as differences in this impact during several phases of the pandemic. Methods: Quantitative data from PREM questionnaires from January 2019 and March 2024, gathered by Mediquest, was used. Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted. Results: Patient satisfaction among physiotherapists’ patients increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before. After the pandemic, patient satisfaction decreased. A positive relation was found between SRH and patient satisfaction among physiotherapists’ patients. No effect of phase on patient satisfaction could be found among patients with different SRHs. Physiotherapists’ patients between 25 and 64 years old gave higher patient satisfaction scores than other age categories. A partial effect of phase on patient satisfaction has been found among patients in different age categories: patients aged 65 years or older were more satisfied after the pandemic than patients in other age categories. Conclusions: Differences in patient satisfaction are found before, during, and after the pandemic. A better SRH leads to higher patient satisfaction scores, but this effect does not differ during different pandemic phases. Patients between 25 and 64 years old give higher patient satisfaction scores than those younger than 25 or 65 years or older. The impact of age on patient satisfaction was influenced by phase after the pandemic, where patients of 65 years or older were more satisfied compared to the other age categories.