Understanding what matters most to patients in acute care in seven countries, using the flash mob study design

Eva S. van den Ende; Bo Schouten; Marjolein N. T. Kremers; Tim Cooksley; Chris P. Subbe; Immo Weichert; Louise S. van Galen; Harm R. Haak; John Kellett; Jelmer Alsma; Victoria Siegrist; Mark Holland; Erika F. Christensen; Colin A. Graham; L. E. U. N. G. Ling Yan; Line E. Laugesen; Hanneke Merten; Fraz Mir; Rachel M. Kidney; Mikkel Brabrand; Prabath W. B. Nanayakkara; Christian H. Nickel; all local collaborators

doi:10.1186/s12913-021-06459-4

Understanding what matters most to patients in acute care in seven countries, using the flash mob study design

Eva S. van den Ende, Bo Schouten, Marjolein N. T. Kremers, Tim Cooksley, Chris P. Subbe, Immo Weichert, Louise S. van Galen, Harm R. Haak, John Kellett, Jelmer Alsma, Victoria Siegrist, Mark Holland, Erika F. Christensen, Colin A. Graham, L. E. U. N. G. Ling Yan, Line E. Laugesen, Hanneke Merten, Fraz Mir, Rachel M. Kidney, Mikkel BrabrandPrabath W. B. Nanayakkara^*, Christian H. Nickel, all local collaborators

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Truly patient-centred care needs to be aligned with what patients consider important, and is highly desirable in the first 24 h of an acute admission, as many decisions are made during this period. However, there is limited knowledge on what matters most to patients in this phase of their hospital stay. The objective of this study was to identify what mattered most to patients in acute care and to assess the patient perspective as to whether their treating doctors were aware of this.

Methods: This was a large-scale, qualitative, flash mob study, conducted simultaneously in sixty-six hospitals in seven countries, starting November 14th 2018, ending 50 h later. One thousand eight hundred fifty adults in the first 24 h of an acute medical admission were interviewed on what mattered most to them, why this mattered and whether they felt the treating doctor was aware of this.

Results: The most reported answers to "what matters most (and why)?" were 'getting better or being in good health' (why: to be with family/friends or pick-up life again), 'getting home' (why: more comfortable at home or to take care of someone) and 'having a diagnosis' (why: to feel less anxious or insecure). Of all patients, 51.9% felt the treating doctor did not know what mattered most to them.

Conclusions: The priorities for acutely admitted patients were ostensibly disease- and care-oriented and thus in line with the hospitals' own priorities. However, answers to why these were important were diverse, more personal, and often related to psychological well-being and relations. A large group of patients felt their treating doctor did not know what mattered most to them. Explicitly asking patients what is important and why, could help healthcare professionals to get to know the person behind the patient, which is essential in delivering patient-centred care.

Original language	English
Article number	474
Number of pages	11
Journal	BMC Health Services Research
Volume	21
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06459-4
Publication status	Published - 19 May 2021

Keywords

What matters most
Patient-centred care
Acute care
Emergency medicine
Quality of care
Patient-physician communication
Research methods
SHARED DECISION-MAKING
EMERGENCY-DEPARTMENT
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
CENTERED CARE
HEALTH-CARE
COMMUNICATION
OUTCOMES
SATISFACTION
GOALS
MODEL

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1 Erratum / corrigendum / retractions

Correction to: Understanding what matters most to patients in acute care in seven countries, using the flash mob study design
van den Ende, E. S., Schouten, B., Kremers, M. N. T., Cooksley, T., Subbe, C. P., Weichert, I., van Galen, L. S., Haak, H. R., Kellett, J., Alsma, J., Siegrist, V., Holland, M., Christensen, E. F., Graham, C. A., Leung, L. Y., Laugesen, L. E., Merten, H., Mir, F., Kidney, R. M., Brabrand, M., & 3 othersNanayakkara, P. W. B., Nickel, C. H. & all local collaborators, 18 Jun 2021, In: BMC Health Services Research. 21, 1, 1 p., 586.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Erratum / corrigendum / retractions › Academic

Open Access

Cite this

van den Ende, E. S., Schouten, B., Kremers, M. N. T., Cooksley, T., Subbe, C. P., Weichert, I., van Galen, L. S., Haak, H. R., Kellett, J., Alsma, J., Siegrist, V., Holland, M., Christensen, E. F., Graham, C. A., Yan, L. E. U. N. G. L., Laugesen, L. E., Merten, H., Mir, F., Kidney, R. M., ... all local collaborators (2021). Understanding what matters most to patients in acute care in seven countries, using the flash mob study design. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), Article 474. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06459-4

@article{688ff55024fa43709b4b472d430ee709,

title = "Understanding what matters most to patients in acute care in seven countries, using the flash mob study design",

abstract = "Background: Truly patient-centred care needs to be aligned with what patients consider important, and is highly desirable in the first 24 h of an acute admission, as many decisions are made during this period. However, there is limited knowledge on what matters most to patients in this phase of their hospital stay. The objective of this study was to identify what mattered most to patients in acute care and to assess the patient perspective as to whether their treating doctors were aware of this.Methods: This was a large-scale, qualitative, flash mob study, conducted simultaneously in sixty-six hospitals in seven countries, starting November 14th 2018, ending 50 h later. One thousand eight hundred fifty adults in the first 24 h of an acute medical admission were interviewed on what mattered most to them, why this mattered and whether they felt the treating doctor was aware of this.Results: The most reported answers to {"}what matters most (and why)?{"} were 'getting better or being in good health' (why: to be with family/friends or pick-up life again), 'getting home' (why: more comfortable at home or to take care of someone) and 'having a diagnosis' (why: to feel less anxious or insecure). Of all patients, 51.9% felt the treating doctor did not know what mattered most to them.Conclusions: The priorities for acutely admitted patients were ostensibly disease- and care-oriented and thus in line with the hospitals' own priorities. However, answers to why these were important were diverse, more personal, and often related to psychological well-being and relations. A large group of patients felt their treating doctor did not know what mattered most to them. Explicitly asking patients what is important and why, could help healthcare professionals to get to know the person behind the patient, which is essential in delivering patient-centred care.",

keywords = "What matters most, Patient-centred care, Acute care, Emergency medicine, Quality of care, Patient-physician communication, Research methods, SHARED DECISION-MAKING, EMERGENCY-DEPARTMENT, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, CENTERED CARE, HEALTH-CARE, COMMUNICATION, OUTCOMES, SATISFACTION, GOALS, MODEL",

author = "{van den Ende}, {Eva S.} and Bo Schouten and Kremers, {Marjolein N. T.} and Tim Cooksley and Subbe, {Chris P.} and Immo Weichert and {van Galen}, {Louise S.} and Haak, {Harm R.} and John Kellett and Jelmer Alsma and Victoria Siegrist and Mark Holland and Christensen, {Erika F.} and Graham, {Colin A.} and Yan, {L. E. U. N. G. Ling} and Laugesen, {Line E.} and Hanneke Merten and Fraz Mir and Kidney, {Rachel M.} and Mikkel Brabrand and Nanayakkara, {Prabath W. B.} and Nickel, {Christian H.} and {all local collaborators}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s).",

year = "2021",

month = may,

day = "19",

doi = "10.1186/s12913-021-06459-4",

language = "English",

volume = "21",

journal = "BMC Health Services Research",

issn = "1472-6963",

publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd",

number = "1",

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van den Ende, ES, Schouten, B, Kremers, MNT, Cooksley, T, Subbe, CP, Weichert, I, van Galen, LS, Haak, HR, Kellett, J, Alsma, J, Siegrist, V, Holland, M, Christensen, EF, Graham, CA, Yan, LEUNGL, Laugesen, LE, Merten, H, Mir, F, Kidney, RM, Brabrand, M, Nanayakkara, PWB, Nickel, CH & all local collaborators 2021, 'Understanding what matters most to patients in acute care in seven countries, using the flash mob study design', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 21, no. 1, 474. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06459-4

TY - JOUR

T1 - Understanding what matters most to patients in acute care in seven countries, using the flash mob study design

AU - van den Ende, Eva S.

AU - Schouten, Bo

AU - Kremers, Marjolein N. T.

AU - Cooksley, Tim

AU - Subbe, Chris P.

AU - Weichert, Immo

AU - van Galen, Louise S.

AU - Haak, Harm R.

AU - Kellett, John

AU - Alsma, Jelmer

AU - Siegrist, Victoria

AU - Holland, Mark

AU - Christensen, Erika F.

AU - Graham, Colin A.

AU - Yan, L. E. U. N. G. Ling

AU - Laugesen, Line E.

AU - Merten, Hanneke

AU - Mir, Fraz

AU - Kidney, Rachel M.

AU - Brabrand, Mikkel

AU - Nanayakkara, Prabath W. B.

AU - Nickel, Christian H.

AU - all local collaborators

PY - 2021/5/19

Y1 - 2021/5/19

N2 - Background: Truly patient-centred care needs to be aligned with what patients consider important, and is highly desirable in the first 24 h of an acute admission, as many decisions are made during this period. However, there is limited knowledge on what matters most to patients in this phase of their hospital stay. The objective of this study was to identify what mattered most to patients in acute care and to assess the patient perspective as to whether their treating doctors were aware of this.Methods: This was a large-scale, qualitative, flash mob study, conducted simultaneously in sixty-six hospitals in seven countries, starting November 14th 2018, ending 50 h later. One thousand eight hundred fifty adults in the first 24 h of an acute medical admission were interviewed on what mattered most to them, why this mattered and whether they felt the treating doctor was aware of this.Results: The most reported answers to "what matters most (and why)?" were 'getting better or being in good health' (why: to be with family/friends or pick-up life again), 'getting home' (why: more comfortable at home or to take care of someone) and 'having a diagnosis' (why: to feel less anxious or insecure). Of all patients, 51.9% felt the treating doctor did not know what mattered most to them.Conclusions: The priorities for acutely admitted patients were ostensibly disease- and care-oriented and thus in line with the hospitals' own priorities. However, answers to why these were important were diverse, more personal, and often related to psychological well-being and relations. A large group of patients felt their treating doctor did not know what mattered most to them. Explicitly asking patients what is important and why, could help healthcare professionals to get to know the person behind the patient, which is essential in delivering patient-centred care.

AB - Background: Truly patient-centred care needs to be aligned with what patients consider important, and is highly desirable in the first 24 h of an acute admission, as many decisions are made during this period. However, there is limited knowledge on what matters most to patients in this phase of their hospital stay. The objective of this study was to identify what mattered most to patients in acute care and to assess the patient perspective as to whether their treating doctors were aware of this.Methods: This was a large-scale, qualitative, flash mob study, conducted simultaneously in sixty-six hospitals in seven countries, starting November 14th 2018, ending 50 h later. One thousand eight hundred fifty adults in the first 24 h of an acute medical admission were interviewed on what mattered most to them, why this mattered and whether they felt the treating doctor was aware of this.Results: The most reported answers to "what matters most (and why)?" were 'getting better or being in good health' (why: to be with family/friends or pick-up life again), 'getting home' (why: more comfortable at home or to take care of someone) and 'having a diagnosis' (why: to feel less anxious or insecure). Of all patients, 51.9% felt the treating doctor did not know what mattered most to them.Conclusions: The priorities for acutely admitted patients were ostensibly disease- and care-oriented and thus in line with the hospitals' own priorities. However, answers to why these were important were diverse, more personal, and often related to psychological well-being and relations. A large group of patients felt their treating doctor did not know what mattered most to them. Explicitly asking patients what is important and why, could help healthcare professionals to get to know the person behind the patient, which is essential in delivering patient-centred care.

KW - What matters most

KW - Patient-centred care

KW - Acute care

KW - Emergency medicine

KW - Quality of care

KW - Patient-physician communication

KW - Research methods

KW - SHARED DECISION-MAKING

KW - EMERGENCY-DEPARTMENT

KW - QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

KW - CENTERED CARE

KW - HEALTH-CARE

KW - COMMUNICATION

KW - OUTCOMES

KW - SATISFACTION

KW - GOALS

KW - MODEL

U2 - 10.1186/s12913-021-06459-4

DO - 10.1186/s12913-021-06459-4

M3 - Article

C2 - 34011321

SN - 1472-6963

VL - 21

JO - BMC Health Services Research

JF - BMC Health Services Research

IS - 1

M1 - 474

ER -

Understanding what matters most to patients in acute care in seven countries, using the flash mob study design

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Research output

Correction to: Understanding what matters most to patients in acute care in seven countries, using the flash mob study design

Cite this