Comparison of child and parent satisfaction ratings of ambulatory pediatric subspecialty care

Opinions about satisfaction with care are rarely solicited from children. This study's purpose was to compare children's ratings of patient satisfaction with outpatient care to ratings given by parents. This descriptive and comparative survey study compared responses of a convenience sample of children and adolescents (n = 116) who received care at two metropolitan pediatric subspecialty clinics with their parents' responses (n = 115). Ratings were obtained using the "Satisfaction with Child Healthcare Survey," an instrument adapted with permission from the "Kids Count Survey" developed at McMaster Health Center in Ontario, Canada. Additionally, three open-ended questions were solicited and analyzed for major themes. There was moderate significant correlation between child-teen and parent scores. Parents rated care significantly higher than did the children. Children's responses to open-ended questions varied somewhat from their parents' opinions on various aspects of clinic visits. Findings suggested that having parents evaluate children's care may not accurately represent the views of children and teens. Findings supported children and teens' ability to provide valuable perceptions about care that can inform clinic improvement processes.