Survey of patients' preference for the location of rehabilitation ward rounds.
OBJECTIVE
To survey inpatients in a rehabilitation hospital regarding their preference for ward rounds to be conducted at the bedside or in a consulting room.


METHODS
Before-after trial. Patients were seen on ward round at the bedside during one week and then in a consulting room the following week. Patients were asked about their preferred setting and their reasons for their preference.


METHODS
Rehabilitation inpatients (n=45) in Melbourne, Australia with predominantly acute neurological and orthopaedic impairments.


METHODS
Age, gender and impairment category of respondents were noted. Ward round preference was analysed assuming a binomial distribution.


RESULTS
A statistically significant number (p=0.04) of patients preferred to be seen in the consulting room (n=29, 64%). There were 13 (29%) who preferred the bedside and 3 (7%) indicated no preference. There was no influence of gender (p=0.1) or impairment category (p=0.3) on preference, but younger patients preferred the consulting room (p=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Most rehabilitation patients in hospital would rather attend a ward round held in a consulting room than at the bedside. The consulting room has many advantages over the traditional bedside location for ward rounds in a rehabilitation hospital.
New
Peter W
PW
Acute Rehabilitation, Continuing Care Program, Kingston Centre, Southern Health, Melbourne, Australia. peter.new@southernhealth.org.au
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers