Patient-mediated interventions in hospital: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Engagement
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Patient-mediated interventions (PMIs) are increasingly explored to enhance healthcare delivery.
• While research often focuses on primary care, hospital settings present unique opportunities for PMIs.
• Understanding the characteristics and impact of hospital-based PMIs is crucial for optimizing patient and clinician outcomes.

Approach:

• A systematic review of health literature databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE) was conducted.
• Studies involving adult hospitalized patients and PMIs were included, with data extracted on intervention characteristics and outcomes.
• Narrative synthesis and the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool were used to analyze intervention impact and methodological quality.

Key Points:

• Eighteen distinct PMIs were identified across 33 studies, categorized by whether they prompted patients to report health information or provide feedback on clinical practice.
• Evidence suggests patients utilize PMIs, potentially improving patient-clinician communication.
• Healthcare professional outcomes were mixed, but some evidence indicated behavior change, with interventions focused on patients reporting health information appearing more successful.

Conclusions:

• Hospital-based PMIs show potential to influence patient communication and healthcare professional behavior.
• PMIs encouraging patients to report their health data prior to clinical encounters may be more effective than those seeking feedback during or after.
• Further research into a broader range of hospital-based PMIs is warranted to explore their suitability and effectiveness.