BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction surveys are commonly conducted to evaluate health care quality. However, little is known about the impact of the time point of survey administration on the level of satisfaction, questionnaire acceptability, and costs, especially for inpatient psychiatric care. AIMS: To assess whether inpatient satisfaction, questionnaire acceptability, and total costs of study differ according to the time point of questionnaire administration for inpatient psychiatric care. METHOD AND SAMPLE: Inpatients completed the ©Saphora-Psy, a French validated tool measuring satisfaction with care with 35 items assessing 7 dimensions of care, 2-3 days before leaving the ward (first phase). Four to eight weeks after discharge, patients received the same instrument at home (second phase). Time needed to fill the questionnaire and items assessing its acceptability were requested. RESULTS: Only fifty of 104 inpatients in the acute psychiatric hospital, aged >18, who completed the first questionnaire, participated to the second phase, although they all agreed to complete it twice. The participation rate during the hospital stay was 47%. Acceptability did not differ significantly. The mean proportion of missing values was slightly higher after hospital stay (3.84%) than during hospital stay (3.52%), while the number of manuscript comments was identical (n=13). Global evaluation of the questionnaire was similar when administered after or before discharge (excellent/very good : 41% and 42% respectively). General satisfaction with care was rated higher when measured during (vs after) hospital stay. Satisfaction was significantly lower when measured after discharge on four items: nursing staff's empathy (p=0.02) and communication about care (p=0.03), smoking directives (p=0.01), and information regarding treatment after discharge (p=0.01). Costs were about eight times higher during the first phase. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfaction appeared to vary slightly according to the time point of questionnaire administration, with higher ratings measured during hospital stay. In terms of acceptability, the surveys offered identical rates. The costs were much higher during the first phase, due to the hot pursuit of patients about to leave the hospital. [Authors]