ABSTRACT
Parents and professional caregivers, although united in their shared goal of returning a sick child to health, do not always view the caregiving situation from the same frame of reference. This article describes the perspectives of more than 50,000 parents whose child experienced a hospitalization. It outlines the greatest opportunities for improving the pediatric inpatient experience from the parent's perspective. In addition, practical tips and strategies for planning improvements in care from the patient/family perspective are offered.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Child, Hospitalized , Needs Assessment/organization & administration , Parents/psychology , Pediatrics/standards , Total Quality Management/organization & administration , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Family Health , Female , Health Care Surveys , Health Priorities , Hospitals, General/standards , Hospitals, Pediatric/standards , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Patient-Centered Care/standards , Retrospective Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , United StatesABSTRACT
A measure of patient satisfaction with the inpatient care experience, which was originally developed in English, was validated in Spanish, and differences in satisfaction between English-language and Spanish-language respondents were assessed. The Spanish translation of the survey demonstrated the same underlying factor structure of the English version of the survey, was reliable at both the subscale and overall level, and accounted for 81% of the variance in Spanish-language respondents' reported likelihood to recommend the hospital to others. Spanish-language respondents showed higher mean satisfaction levels with regard to most aspects of their care than English-language respondents, except when rating staff courtesy.
Subject(s)
Data Collection , Hispanic or Latino , Patient Satisfaction , Translating , Humans , Professional-Patient Relations , Quality Assurance, Health Care , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Family satisfaction is one of the most important outcomes for hospice care. A survey conducted in 2001 by Press Ganey Associates found overall high levels of family satisfaction with hospice care, but also highlighted areas needing improvement. Hospices need to pay more attention to ancillary care services, logistical issues, and the problem of late-timed referrals.
Subject(s)
Consumer Behavior/statistics & numerical data , Family/psychology , Hospice Care/standards , Quality Indicators, Health Care , Appointments and Schedules , Bereavement , Health Care Surveys , Humans , Patient Care Team/standards , Professional-Family Relations , Referral and Consultation/standards , Surveys and Questionnaires , United StatesABSTRACT
This study examined the satisfaction of family members with the end-of-life care their loved ones received. Data were collected from 1,839 individuals receiving care from 17 different care agencies nationwide. Although family satisfaction with hospice care was generally quite high. situational factors played a role. The timing of the referral was critical, with families rating services lower almost across the board when the referral to hospice was deemed "too late." Additionally, families expressed greater satisfaction when the patient's care was overseen by the hospice director, rather than a personal physician. Each of these findings has important implications for physicians, patients, and families as they begin to plan for end-of-life care.
