title: The importance of patient-centered care for various patient groups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess differences in the importance ascribed to patient-centered care between various patient groups and demographic groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey data collected using questionnaires were analyzed for patients that underwent hip or knee surgery (n=214), patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (n=343), spinal disk herniation (n=145), breast abnormalities (n=596) or congestive heart failure (n=118). A composite for patient-centered care priorities was constructed (α=0.82) and compared to the average importance over all healthcare aspects in the surveys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patient groups considered patient-centered care to be of above-average importance (p's<0.001). Small but significant differences were observed: patient-centered care was more important for patients suffering from congestive heart failure (p<0.001) and patients who were younger, female, well-educated and healthier (p's<0.05). Patients who had undergone hip or knee surgery considered patient-centered care more important than patients with spinal disk herniation did (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient-centered care is important to all patient groups. Differential policies regarding patient-centered care for patient subgroups do not seem required.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the importance attributed to patient-centered care, it is essential that elements of patient-centered care are included in surveys, indicators of quality of care, and the training of doctors and nurses.
authors.affiliation: NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research), Utrecht, The Netherlands. d.deboer@nivel.nl
authors.forename: Dolf
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delnoij
authors.forename: Jany
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rademakers
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000592:standards; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*