Postpartum women prefer delayed physician rounding

(HealthDay)—Delayed physician rounding increases postpartum women's satisfaction with their hospital experience and patient-physician communication, according to a study published in the August issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Robyn P. Roberts, M.D., from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, and colleagues randomized 152 women to early (5 to 7 a.m.) or delayed (8 to 10 a.m.) physician rounding. Effects of rounding time on patient satisfaction were assessed using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey at discharge.

The researchers found that more women in the early rounding than the delayed rounding group had a cesarean delivery (47.4 versus 22.4 percent). Compared with the early rounding group, median rating of the hospital was higher in the delayed group. Similarly, median scores for physician communication and perception of hospital experience were higher in the delayed group than the early group. Results were not altered with adjustment for delivery mode.

"Postpartum women receiving delayed physician rounding were more satisfied with their hospital experience and patient-physician communication without prolonging maternal or neonatal discharge," the authors write.