Nearly half of general practices are failing to investigate complaints properly

Patient Complaints in Image-Guided Interventions: Evaluation of Multifactorial Issues Using a Coding Taxonomy

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to classify complaints from patients undergoing image-guided interventions using a coding taxonomy and to test whether single-coded complaints were resolved satisfactorily compared with multifactorial (multiple codes) complaints.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, patients' complaint narratives between April 1999 and December 2012 were reviewed and categorized according to a three-level taxonomy into domains and codes. Resolutions were categorized as satisfactory or unsatisfactory to the patient and were classified as follows: clarification, apology, manager notification, change of provider, reimbursement, and quality review. Complaints were classified as single coded (only one code identified in the patients' description) and multifactorial (multiple codes identified). Statistical analysis was performed with the Fisher test, with the significance level set at 0.05. A run chart with the distribution of complaints by domains (relationships, management, and clinical) by year was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 146 codes were extracted from 71 narratives (2.06 codes/complaint) and were classified into the following domains: clinical (52%; n = 76), management (24%; n = 35), and relationships (24%; n = 35). The most common codes included quality of care, safety, and communication breakdown issues. A run chart found a decline in absolute numbers of complaints over the years in the domains studied. The frequency of satisfactory resolution was 86% for multifactorial versus 81% for single-coded complaints with no statistically significant differences observed (p = 0.72). Over 50% of complaints were resolved by providing clarification to patients (n = 36).

CONCLUSION

There were no statistically significant differences between multifactorial and single-coded complaints. Clinical codes and communication breakdown were the most common reasons for patient-reported complaint, with most complaints successfully resolved with clarification.