[How do patients choose a hospital for elective surgery?]

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Patient Decision-Making
• Healthcare Quality Evaluation

Context:

• In Germany, patients are increasingly involved in selecting healthcare providers for elective surgery.
• Published hospital quality reports are intended to aid patient choice but show low utilization.
• Understanding patient decision-making processes is crucial for improving healthcare access and quality.

Purpose:

• To explore how patients in Germany choose hospitals for elective surgery.
• To investigate the utilization of mandatory hospital quality reports in patient decision-making.
• To identify key criteria and information sources influencing hospital selection for elective procedures.

Summary:

• A cross-sectional survey of 48 patients undergoing elective surgery across 5 specialties and 4 hospitals in Germany revealed key decision-making factors.
• Patients prioritize personal experience, geographical proximity, and hospital expertise over written quality reports.
• Primary information sources include personal networks, outpatient clinics, and ambulatory care providers, with written materials serving a supplementary role.

Impact:

• Findings highlight a significant gap between the availability of hospital quality reports and their actual use by patients.
• Results suggest a need for enhanced patient education and more accessible, user-friendly quality reporting to support informed healthcare choices.
• The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers aiming to improve patient engagement in hospital selection.