Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: To examine the patient experience of laryngopharyngeal reflux diagnosis and factors that contributed to perceived difficulty with the process.
METHODS: A 32-question anonymous survey was administered to individuals over 18 years old who reported a diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux. The survey contained questions regarding demographics and individuals\' experiences during the diagnostic workup along with the generic short patient experiences questionnaire. Percentages were calculated for all variables. Kendall rank correlation coefficient was performed to measure the strength and direction of association between laryngopharyngeal reflux workup and perceived difficulty with diagnosis.
RESULTS: Of the 232 respondents, 59.9 % reported difficulty with the diagnostic process. Strong positive correlations were found between perceived difficulty with laryngopharyngeal reflux diagnosis and the following factors: total number of physicians seen (τb = 0.483, p < 0.001), time from symptom onset (τb = 0.300, p < 0.001), and time from first physician visit (τb = 0.479, p < 0.001). Results from the generic short patient experiences questionnaire showed moderate negative correlations between perceived difficulty with diagnosis and the following factors: perceived competence of physician (τb = -0.228, p < 0.001), perception that the physician cared for the patient (τb = -0.253, p < 0.001), perceived interest the physician had in the patient (τb = -0.259, p < 0.001), and time interacting with the physician (τb = -0.226, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Respondents report difficulty being diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux. This correlates with increased time to receive a diagnosis, increased number of physicians seen, and factors related to the patient-physician relationship. Physicians can improve patient experience by focusing on clear communication with interactive patient appointments, and scheduling high yield diagnostic tests.
METHODS: A 32-question anonymous survey was administered to individuals over 18 years old who reported a diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux. The survey contained questions regarding demographics and individuals\' experiences during the diagnostic workup along with the generic short patient experiences questionnaire. Percentages were calculated for all variables. Kendall rank correlation coefficient was performed to measure the strength and direction of association between laryngopharyngeal reflux workup and perceived difficulty with diagnosis.
RESULTS: Of the 232 respondents, 59.9 % reported difficulty with the diagnostic process. Strong positive correlations were found between perceived difficulty with laryngopharyngeal reflux diagnosis and the following factors: total number of physicians seen (τb = 0.483, p < 0.001), time from symptom onset (τb = 0.300, p < 0.001), and time from first physician visit (τb = 0.479, p < 0.001). Results from the generic short patient experiences questionnaire showed moderate negative correlations between perceived difficulty with diagnosis and the following factors: perceived competence of physician (τb = -0.228, p < 0.001), perception that the physician cared for the patient (τb = -0.253, p < 0.001), perceived interest the physician had in the patient (τb = -0.259, p < 0.001), and time interacting with the physician (τb = -0.226, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Respondents report difficulty being diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux. This correlates with increased time to receive a diagnosis, increased number of physicians seen, and factors related to the patient-physician relationship. Physicians can improve patient experience by focusing on clear communication with interactive patient appointments, and scheduling high yield diagnostic tests.
摘要：
目的：检查患者对咽喉反流诊断的经验以及导致患者感觉过程困难的因素。
方法：对18岁以上报告诊断为咽喉反流的个体进行了一项32个问题的匿名调查。该调查包含有关诊断检查期间的人口统计学和个人经历的问题，以及通用的简短患者经历问卷。计算所有变量的百分比。使用Kendall等级相关系数来测量咽喉反流检查与诊断难度之间的关联强度和方向。
结果：在232名受访者中，59.9％报告诊断过程困难。发现感觉到的咽喉反流诊断困难与以下因素之间存在强烈的正相关：就诊的医生总数（τb=0.483，p<0.001），症状发作时间（τb=0.300，p<0.001），和从首次就诊开始的时间(τb=0.479，p<0.001)。来自通用的短患者经历问卷的结果显示，诊断难度与以下因素之间存在中度负相关：医生的感知能力（τb=-0.228，p<0.001），医生关心病人的感觉(τb=-0.253，p<0.001)，医生对患者的感知兴趣(τb=-0.259，p<0.001)，和与医生相互作用的时间(τb=-0.226，p<0.001)。
结论：受访者报告难以诊断为咽喉反流。这与接受诊断的时间增加有关，看到的医生数量增加，以及与医患关系相关的因素。医师可以通过专注于与交互式患者预约的清晰沟通来改善患者体验，并安排高产量的诊断测试。
方法：对18岁以上报告诊断为咽喉反流的个体进行了一项32个问题的匿名调查。该调查包含有关诊断检查期间的人口统计学和个人经历的问题，以及通用的简短患者经历问卷。计算所有变量的百分比。使用Kendall等级相关系数来测量咽喉反流检查与诊断难度之间的关联强度和方向。
结果：在232名受访者中，59.9％报告诊断过程困难。发现感觉到的咽喉反流诊断困难与以下因素之间存在强烈的正相关：就诊的医生总数（τb=0.483，p<0.001），症状发作时间（τb=0.300，p<0.001），和从首次就诊开始的时间(τb=0.479，p<0.001)。来自通用的短患者经历问卷的结果显示，诊断难度与以下因素之间存在中度负相关：医生的感知能力（τb=-0.228，p<0.001），医生关心病人的感觉(τb=-0.253，p<0.001)，医生对患者的感知兴趣(τb=-0.259，p<0.001)，和与医生相互作用的时间(τb=-0.226，p<0.001)。
结论：受访者报告难以诊断为咽喉反流。这与接受诊断的时间增加有关，看到的医生数量增加，以及与医患关系相关的因素。医师可以通过专注于与交互式患者预约的清晰沟通来改善患者体验，并安排高产量的诊断测试。
