Enhancing Patient Experience in Outpatient Hysteroscopy: A Two-Year Quality Improvement Project Across East Kent Hospitals

Dr Amr Lila, Dr Ahmed Abdelmohsen, Dr Gaurab Gurung, Miss Sarah Bugren.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.

Introduction

Outpatient
hysteroscopy ( is a safe and efficient method for
diagnosing and treating intrauterine pathology, increasingly used due
to its convenience, cost effectiveness, and high patient acceptability¹
Despite
these benefits, pain and procedural anxiety remain common
concerns and can negatively impact the patient experience²
A
national benchmarking survey of 5 151 women across 77 UK
hospitals highlighted high overall satisfaction with OPH services
However,
over 85 reported some degree of pain, and 26
experienced vasovagal symptoms³
This
highlights the importance of ongoing service evaluation This
Quality Improvement Project ( compares patient experience data
from 2023 and 2024 across East Kent hospitals to assess the impact
of local service changes and ensure alignment with national
standards

 

Methods
patient
satisfaction survey was distributed to women undergoing
outpatient hysteroscopy at four East Kent hospital sites (
WHH, KCH, and BHD)
The
survey design was based on the nationally validated OPH Patient
Satisfaction Survey (OPH PSS)³
Two
cycles of data collection were conducted
Cycle
1 2023 Baseline data collected pre intervention
Cycle
2 2024 Post intervention data following changes to service
delivery (e g improved communication, environmental adjustments,
and documentation updates)
The
survey assessed multiple domains of patient experience
•
Quality and clarity of pre procedure information
•
Pain perception and analgesia counselling
•
Waiting environment and privacy
•
Communication and emotional support
Data
were anonymised and analysed using descriptive statistics
Comparative analysis between 2023 and 2024 was performed to
evaluate changes in patient reported outcomes

 

Results:

A
total of 73 responses were received in 2023 and 84 responses in 2024
Overall
patient satisfaction remained high in both years, with over 85
rating the service as “ or “very good”
•
Notable improvements were observed in
•
Pre procedure information from 78 to 92
•
Discussion of pain relief options from 60 to 81
•
Comfort of waiting area from 45 to 74
•
However, pain during the procedure remained a significant concern in
both years, and feelings of anxiety were still commonly reported
despite slight improvement