Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026
14:32
Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
24.9K
Understanding and measuring quality of care: dealing with complexity
Johanna Hanefeld1, Timothy Powell-Jackson1, Dina Balabanova1
1London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, England.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
|May 9, 2017
Summary
Perceptions of health care quality, not just clinical measures, drive patient choices and demand. Redefining quality measurement is crucial for improving health systems and access to care.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Sociology of Health
Background:
- Current definitions and measurement of health care quality often overlook its complexities.
- Patient perceptions of quality significantly influence service utilization and demand for healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the nature of quality in health systems.
- To examine how perceptions of quality impact health systems and their measurement.
- To discuss challenges in conceptualizing and measuring the quality of care.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis and reflection on existing literature and health system dynamics.
- Discussion of six key challenges in quality conceptualization and measurement.
- Exploration of quality as a social construct influenced by experience, trust, and values.
Main Results:
- Perceived quality, not solely clinical indicators, drives service utilization.
- Quality is a dynamic concept shaped by experience, responsiveness, upstream factors, and social co-production.
- Social norms, relationships, trust, and values are integral to understanding quality of care.
Conclusions:
- Health care quality measurement needs reconsideration to include perceived quality, acceptability, responsiveness, and patient-provider trust.
- Improving the understanding of quality attributes and their interrelationships can enhance access to essential health interventions.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
1.6K
Documentation in long-term care facilities and home healthcare settings is crucial for ensuring continuous, coordinated, and comprehensive care for patients. Each setting has its specific documentation processes and tools:
Long-Term Care Facilities
Long-Term Care Facilities
1.6K
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
984
The case management model is a multidisciplinary approach that involves healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines, such as physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and pharmacists, working collaboratively to address the various needs of patients. Each healthcare professional brings unique expertise and perspectives, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition and tailoring treatment plans accordingly.
For example, a patient with a chronic...
For example, a patient with a chronic...
984
01:30Health Information Technology and Healthcare Information System
3.5K
Health Information Technology (HIT)
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
3.5K
01:13Patient-centered Care
3.2K
Patient-centered care involves delivering care beyond inpatient hospitalization. Reflective practice can enhance a patient-centered approach. Reflective practice is a process of reasoning that considers all aspects of the present situation, including practicalities, learning from personal practice, and consideration of patient needs. Patients appreciate care decisions made while considering their input. Involving the patient in their care provides the patient with a sense of contribution rather...
3.2K
01:19Quality Assurance
3.7K
Quality assurance is the overarching term used to describe the activities employed to ensure the proper performance of a system. These activities can be classified into three categories: quality control, quality assessment, and internal corrective measures. Typically, these activities work cyclically: quality control is performed before and during the analysis, while quality assessment occurs during and after the investigation. Internal corrective measures are implemented based on the findings...
3.7K
01:11Purpose of Health Records I
1.9K
The vital purpose of health records is to provide a complete and accurate account of a patient's medical history, including communication, diagnostic and therapeutic orders, care planning, research, and quality review.
Here's a breakdown of how health records serve these purposes:
Here's a breakdown of how health records serve these purposes:
1.9K