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What hospital quality indicators matter to patients? Results from a general population survey
Malin Hüllemann1, Simin Tahmasebi-Gandomkari2, André Hajek2
1Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany. m.huellemann@uke.de.
Objective:
This study aims to examine the relevance of different hospital quality indicators (QIs) for patients choosing a hospital for inpatient care, and to assess whether their importance varies by risk level and patient characteristics.
Method:
We conducted an online survey with a quota-based sample of 2,894 individuals aged 18-74 years, which reflected the demographic composition of the general adult population in Germany. Participants were asked to imagine needing elective surgery in two scenarios (gallbladder surgery and coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] surgery) and to rate the relevance of 43 QIs on a 6-point Likert scale. We used multiple linear regression to examine the associations between QI relevance ratings and participants sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and health-related characteristics.
Results:
For both scenarios, the most relevant QIs were physician qualifications, mortality rate and the presence of a robust infection prevention and control program. Outcome indicators were generally rated as more relevant than process or structure indicators. All indicators were rated as more relevant for CABG than for gallbladder surgery, except scar size, proximity to home, and length of stay. Preferences varied by sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and health-related characteristics, including age, gender, presence of chronic disease, and prior hospitalization. All outcome and process indicators were rated as more relevant by women than by men, except for food quality, which was rated as more relevant by men.
Conclusion:
Preferences varied by surgical scenario and patient characteristics. Participants generally assigned higher importance to most indicators for CABG than for gallbladder surgery. The results point to a need for transparent and accessible presentation of hospital quality information that reflects the information needs and values of different patient groups. Improving how such information is presented may help patients make better-informed hospital choices.
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