[Hospitalization of foreign residents living abroad at the Assistance Publique--hospitals of Paris (1981-1988)]. / Hospitalisation des étrangers résidant à l'étranger à l'Assistance Publique--hôpitaux de Paris (1981-1988).

In 1988, 10,386 foreign patients living abroad were hospitalized in the public Hospitals of "Assistance Publique" in Paris. Specific statistical methods starting from an anonymous file of patients, made it possible to study these hospital stays in terms of patients for each year between 1981 and 1988. Several factors are described: the various origins of the hospitalized patients; the overall decrease in the number of hospitalized patients during the period taken into account, with a detailed analysis for certain nationalities; the comparatively higher rate of tumors and cardiovascular diseases; the distribution of patients by diseases and by geographical origin. These data are in keeping with those of a recent survey on morbidity carried out by the Department of Health.

[Analysis of endocrinology consultations in Paris public assistance hospitals: cross-sectional survey of 15 days in 10 departments]. / Analyse des consultations d'endocrinologie à l'assistance publique-hôpitaux de Paris: enquête transversale de 15 jours dans 10 services.

A cross-sectional study was carried out in ten endocrinology departments for a two-week period of time. Three categories of data were collected concerning socio-economic status and epidemiological profiles and management of the patients. The results are presented with comparative analysis of performance of the clinics, and epidemiological data are analysed with reference to the inpatient case mix.

[An analysis of the organization, profile of the clientele and pathologies managed in the urology division of the Public Assistance-Hospital of Paris. A 15-day cross-sectional survey of 10 services]. / Analyse de l'organisation, du profil de clientèle et des pathologies prises en charge en consultation d'urologie à l'Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris. Enquête transversale de 15 jours dans 10 services.

A cross-sectional study was carried out in ten urology departments over a two-week period. Three categories of data were collected concerning socio-economic status and epidemiological profiles and management of the patients. The results are presented with comparative analysis of performance of the clinics, and the epidemiological data are analysed with reference to the inpatient case mix.

Results of a comparative study of in-patient satisfaction in eight hospitals in the Paris region.

Using the method of self-administered questionnaires, patient satisfaction was measured in eight hospitals for both in-patient stays and out-patient visits, excluding emergency departments for which this method is not appropriate. According to the size of the ward, the in-patient satisfaction was assessed for a period of time, ranging from one to three months in order to obtain 110 questionnaires; for outpatients, the satisfaction was assessed for one week. On the whole, the study showed high satisfaction with the care provided by physicians and nurses (81% and 74% of patients were "very satisfied"), satisfaction with cleanliness and comfort (respectively 64% and 61%), and low satisfaction for quietness and for the time schedule and the quality of meals (respectively 48%, 52% and 40%). As far as comparisons between hospitals and between wards within a given specialty were made, a major result of the study was to point out the very great range of dispersion of satisfaction scores. For example, if the mean value of the satisfaction about comfort is 61% of patients "very satisfied", the extreme values for the set of eight hospitals are 35% and 70%. Another example may be given in general surgery specialty: if the mean value of the satisfaction for medical care is 78%, the extreme values for the set of seven wards are 68% and 86%. These results make clear that however encouraging the scores may be, the evidence of the variability is a powerful incentive to organize corrective actions.