Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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The evaluation of services by patients is an essential component of continuous quality improvement in anesthesiology. Little is known, however, about how to achieve this objective. Our goal was to conduct a systematic review of all available studies on patient satisfaction with anesthesia services, thereby ascertaining the present level of knowledge in this field and suggesting ways of improving current measurement methodologies. ⋯ The currently available studies of patient satisfaction are of questionable value. Only rigorous methods and reliable instruments will yield valid and clinically relevant findings of this important issue in anesthesiology.