A Systematic Review of Questionnaires Assessing Patient Satisfaction in Plastic Surgery: Tools, Topics, and Surgical Types

Abstract

Background: Patient satisfaction is crucial for evaluating healthcare services, including plastic surgery. This systematic review aims to analyze questionnaires assessing patient satisfaction in plastic surgery, identifying their strengths and weaknesses to improve outcomes and enhance the quality of care. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases. Studies were included if they were original research articles, written in English, and focused on patient satisfaction questionnaires in plastic surgery. Data extraction and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Results: A total of 105 studies were included. General/overall satisfaction was the most common topic addressed (99.04%). Cosmetic outcomes were the most frequently assessed category (34.3%). Breast reconstruction was the most common procedure (33.3%). Most studies used a combination of generic and procedure-specific questionnaires (45.71%). The most frequently used measurement tools were BREAST-Q and self-developed questionnaires, each accounting for 28.57% and 27.61%. Conclusions: This review provides a comprehensive analysis of patient satisfaction questionnaires in plastic surgery, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach and well-established, validated tools. The findings contribute to improving plastic surgery outcomes and enhancing the quality of care. Future research should refine assessment tools to address patients’ needs and promote patient-centered outcomes in plastic surgery.