[Patient involvement and information preferences on hospital quality: results of an empirical analysis]

In order to be able to make a differentiated choice between healthcare providers, people require information regarding quality. An understanding of patient needs and preferences is crucial in providing helpful information regarding hospital quality.

This study investigated patient involvement in, and preferences for, information on hospital quality using a choice-based experiment based on best-worst scaling in a questionnaire. A total of 276 respondents participated including hospital patients and healthy persons (response rate 71%). The work was conducted in 2008.

The analysis showed a high involvement in information regarding hospital quality. In the measurement of information preferences (35 items/quality indicators), patients rated indicators of structure quality as the most important attributes. Information about process quality was moderately relevant from the patients' point of view. Objective results of outcome quality were more important for patients than subjective quality indicators.

Both the assessment of patient involvement in hospital quality information and the measurement of patient preferences in order to rank patient perception provide important insights into information needs of patients. The findings can subsequently be used for tailoring patient information services regarding hospital quality.