Effects of a Brief Psychosocial Intervention on Inpatient Satisfaction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Medical Interventions
• Patient Experience Research
• Psychosocial Support

Background:

• Patient experience during hospitalization is gaining increasing attention.
• The BATHE (Background, Affect, Trouble, Handling, Empathy) intervention has improved outpatient experiences but lacks study in inpatient settings.
• This study investigates BATHE's efficacy in improving inpatient satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of daily BATHE intervention on patient satisfaction with hospitalization.
• To determine if BATHE improves patient-reported outcomes in an inpatient medical setting.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 25 patients on a family medicine inpatient service.
• Patients were randomized to either usual care or daily BATHE intervention for up to five days or until discharge.
• Patient satisfaction was measured at baseline and completion.

Main Results:

• Daily BATHE administration strongly increased patients' likelihood of rating their care as "excellent."
• Improvements in satisfaction were mediated by patients perceiving their physician showed "a genuine interest in me as a person."
• BATHE did not significantly improve satisfaction through increased feelings of respect, information, or attention.

Conclusions:

• Physicians checking in daily with patients "as a person" enhances hospitalization satisfaction.
• The brief nature of the BATHE intervention makes it feasible for busy inpatient physicians.
• Focusing on the patient as an individual, beyond their medical condition, is key to improving inpatient experience.