The Hospital Experience Through the Patients’ Eyes

Abstract

Background: Posthospital syndrome is associated with a decrease in physical and cognitive function and can contribute to overall patient decline. We can speculate on contributors to this decline (eg, poor sleep and nutrition), but other factors may also contribute. This study seeks to explain how patients experience hospitalization with particular attention on what makes the hospital stay difficult. Design: Qualitative interview study using grounded theory methodology. Setting: Single-site academic medical center. Patients: Hospitalized general medicine patients. Measurements: Interviews using a semistructured interview guide. Results: We recruited 20 general medicine inpatients from an academic medical center. Of the participants, 12 were women and the mean age was 55 years (range = 22-82 years). We found 4 major themes contributing to the hospital experience: (1) hospital environment (eg, food quality and entertainment), (2) patient factors (eg, indifference and expectations), (3) hospital personnel (eg, care team size and level of helpfulness), and (4) patient feelings (eg, level of control and feeling like an object). We discovered that these emotions arising from hospital experiences, together with the other 3 major themes, led to the patients’ perception of their hospital experience overall. We also explore the role that patient tolerance may play in the reporting of patient satisfaction. Conclusions: This article demonstrates the factors affecting how patients experience hospitalization. It provides insight into possible contributors to posthospital syndrome and offers a blueprint for specific quality improvement initiatives. Lastly, it briefly explores how patient tolerance may prove a challenge to the current system of quality reporting.

Patients’ Experiences with Nutritional Care during Hospitalization and Proposals for Improvement

“…Patients in the present study also mentioned fellow patients and treatments in the patient's rooms as a barrier. In line with previous studies, presentation of the food, more food alternatives and the smell of the food were seen as potential barriers [37,46]. In this study, the majority of patients had proposals for improvement regarding individual ordering of the menu of the day.…”

Association between nurses’ experiences of workplace incivility and the culture of safety of hospitals: A cross‐sectional Study

“…Moreover, uncivil behaviour, such as bullying, can affect patient outcomes (Schoville & Aebersold, 2020). Thus, nurse support to patient during hospitalisation lacks the involvement of a healing and peaceful environment, lack of teamwork and family friendly (Snyder & Fletcher, 2019). These attributes lead to poor PS culture.…”

Developing a Patient‐ and Family‐Centered Research Agenda for Hospital Medicine: The Improving Hospital Outcomes through Patient Engagement (i‐HOPE) Study

“…© 2020 Society of Hospital Medicine and to their families. [10][11][12][13] These small studies suggest that communication and the comfort of caregivers and of patient family members are important priorities, as are the provision of adequate sleeping arrangements, food choices, and psychosocial support. However, the limited nature of these studies precludes the possibility of larger conclusions regarding patient priorities.…”

“…However, the limited nature of these studies precludes the possibility of larger conclusions regarding patient priorities. [10][11][12][13] The evolution of patient-centered care has led to increasing efforts to engage, and partner, with patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders to obtain their input on healthcare, research, and improvement efforts. 14 The guiding principle of this engagement is that patients and their caregivers are uniquely positioned to share their lived experiences of care and that their involvement ensures their voices are represented.…”