Association Between Loneliness and Patient Experience in a Primary Health Care Setting

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Management
• Psychology

Background:

• Loneliness is a growing public health issue.
• Patient experience is crucial for healthcare quality.
• Primary care settings offer opportunities for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between patient loneliness and their healthcare experiences.
• To investigate the impact of loneliness on patient-reported outcomes in primary care.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey of 2,673 adult primary care patients in Ontario, Canada.
• Utilized the University of California-Los Angeles 3-item Loneliness Scale.
• Employed a Bayesian multivariate cumulative logit model to analyze data.

Main Results:

• Lonely patients reported significantly lower odds of positive experiences across multiple healthcare domains.
• Loneliness was associated with diminished patient perceptions of care.
• The study identified a statistically significant negative correlation.

Conclusions:

• Loneliness negatively influences how patients perceive their healthcare experiences.
• Primary care clinicians can play a vital role in identifying and addressing patient loneliness.
• Interventions promoting social connection may enhance patient experience and outcomes.