title: What do patients value in the hospital meal experience?
abstract: A number of previous studies have reported on the aspects of hospital food service that patients value, but usually as a secondary finding, and not generally based upon patient-centred approaches. This study employed a questionnaire produced ab initio from interviews with patients and hospital staff, the data from which were subjected to factor and cluster analysis, in order to identify and prioritise the factors that contribute to the meal experience empirically. The most important factors, food and service were as identified by other authors. In decreasing order of importance were social, personal and situational factors. The results confirm that improving the quality of the food and the efficiency with which it reaches the patients remain the most important objectives of hospital food service.
authors.affiliation: Food Service and Applied Nutrition Research Group, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: hhartwell@bournemouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hartwell
authors.affiliation: Food Service and Applied Nutrition Research Group, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paula A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.affiliation: Food Service and Applied Nutrition Research Group, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John S A
authors.initials: JSA
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Food Service and Applied Nutrition Research Group, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johns
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005521:Food Service, Hospital; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Food service; Hospitals; Meal experience; Patient satisfaction