Elderly inpatients' priorities for acute care service quality.
This study examines elderly and advanced elderly inpatients' perceptions of acute care service quality, prioritises opportunities for quality improvement, and assesses variation in patients' satisfaction with care. Psychometrically-validated postal questionnaires were sent to random samplings of patients discharged from the US acute care facilities in 2002 (n = 2,057,164). Quality improvement priorities among non-elderly (< 65 years), elderly (65-74 years), and advanced elderly (> 74 years) were similar but substantial variation was found comparing single items between age groups. Elderly and advanced elderly patients rated the quality of meals and rooms significantly lower than the non-elderly, and the advanced elderly rated treatment decision making involvement significantly lower than the other two age groups. The data reveals specific, actionable areas for quality improvement and a non-linear relationship between age and satisfaction. Findings question assumptions regarding older patients' evaluations of care and indicate directions for quality improvement that account for their unique needs.
Department of Research, Operations and Service, Press Ganey Associates, South Bend, Indiana, USA.
Paul Alexander
PA
Clark
Dennis O
DO
Kaldenberg
Maxwell
M
Drain
Robert J
RJ
Wolosin
D000208:Acute Disease / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires