title: Factors affecting care on acute hospital wards.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify positive and negative aspects of the quality of care for older adults admitted to acute hospital wards during the Quality Mark pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 306 patients and carers and 157 ward staff from 12 wards in six hospitals participated in a pilot study by completing questionnaires about the quality of care on the ward. They stated how much they agreed with a number of statements about care and provided additional free text responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients rated staff attitudes highly, while staff expressed confidence in their skills in providing care. Patients rated the quality of food and the availability of staff lowest. Thematic analysis identified concerns about the ward environment, staffing levels and nutrition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attention needs to focus on improving inpatient environments, nutrition and staff availability.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Psychiatrists, London. stacey.dicks@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dicks
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaplin
authors.forename: Chloë
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hood
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017749:Total Quality Management; D006113:United Kingdom; D000078329:Workforce