Abstract
Purposes: The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of ambulatory patients towards hospital report cards. We asked for their views about the need for such report cards, the quality indicators they considered to be important and their preferences concerning the organization of such reports. This study also examined the relationship between the perceived need for such reports and the patients' characteristics.
Methods: The study subjects were ambulatory patients from seven hospitals. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data.
Results: A total of 1200 questionnaires were distributed, of which 926 were returned, yielding a response rate of 77.17%. Among the respondents, 55.5% expressed a perceived need for such hospital report cards. Responses showed that government is the organization for trusted to produce hospital report cards. The quality indicators patients considered to be significant were patient satisfaction, physicians’ specialization and experience and average waiting time. Patients who had higher monthly incomes, took medication for chronic illness or who had difficulties in obtaining information about hospitals or physicians were more likely to perceive a need for hospital report cards.
Conclusions: More than half of the ambulatory patients expressed a need for hospital report cards. The authors recommend that health authorities start to produce hospital report cards to improve the quality of medical care and to protect patients' rights.
Methods: The study subjects were ambulatory patients from seven hospitals. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data.
Results: A total of 1200 questionnaires were distributed, of which 926 were returned, yielding a response rate of 77.17%. Among the respondents, 55.5% expressed a perceived need for such hospital report cards. Responses showed that government is the organization for trusted to produce hospital report cards. The quality indicators patients considered to be significant were patient satisfaction, physicians’ specialization and experience and average waiting time. Patients who had higher monthly incomes, took medication for chronic illness or who had difficulties in obtaining information about hospitals or physicians were more likely to perceive a need for hospital report cards.
Conclusions: More than half of the ambulatory patients expressed a need for hospital report cards. The authors recommend that health authorities start to produce hospital report cards to improve the quality of medical care and to protect patients' rights.
| Translated title of the contribution | Attitudes of Ambulatory Patients to Hospital Report Cards |
|---|---|
| Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
| Pages (from-to) | 29-42 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | 醫護科技學刊 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2004 |