Improving patient feedback after hospital admission
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mechanisms to optimise patient reported outcomes and patient reported experience measures on the Acute Medical Unit
IRAS ID
311590
Contact name
Vicky Daye
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northern Care Alliance
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
Research Summary
The study is looking at how to most effectively generate patient reported outcome and experience measures (PROMs and PREMs) data in patients admitted to hospital via Acute Medicine. Patient feedback is challenging because these patients can both be very unwell but also have a short admission duration. Knowing when and how to capture data is important to maximise feedback potential. Preferred feedback method may differ between patient groups such as those based on age and language. This study will use electronic and paper versions of a patient feedback questionnaire to determine which provides greater returns of important PROMS and PREMs themes. Alongside this, different styles of question will be asked in sequential iterations of the questionnaire and the questionnaire will be completed at different times relative to the date of admission. Analyses will be applied to determine the best approach to use and whether this may need to differ between patient groups to ensure that seeking feedback does not link to health inequality by providing some people with a greater platform for their voice compared to others. Finally, key themes within feedback will be linked to outcome data such as readmission to determine which themes are most effective in use as PROMs markers of susceptibility to poorer outcome.Lay summary of study results:
Background:
The Acute Medical Unit (AMU) is a hospital ward for patients needing urgent medical assessment. Collecting patient feedback there is difficult because patients are often very unwell or not there for long. This study aimed to find the best way to collect feedback on AMU.Aims:
We tested different versions of a feedback questionnaire to see what works best: fewer or more questions, specific or general questions, and whether it is better to ask for feedback while they are still in hospital or after they have gone home.Methods:
459 patients at Salford Royal Hospital were randomly given one of several questionnaire formats: 2 or 5 questions, open or focussed, during admission or after discharge. We identified themes in the responses, and whether the feedback was positive, negative, or mixed. We then compared this information between the different times the questionnaires were completed, how long they were and how the questions were phrased.Key Findings:
• It is best to ask for feedback while people are still in hospital. 81% responded, versus just 25% after discharge.
• Focussed questions got more responses than open ones (62% vs 49%).
• Two questions worked just as well as five, with no fewer themes despite fewer questions.
• Most feedback was positive, especially about staff and care. Comments on food, comfort, and medication were more likely to be negative.
• Younger patients (18-54 years) tended to be more critical.Conclusions and Future Plans:
A short, focussed questionnaire given before discharge gets the best results and places less demand on patients. We are now rolling the study out across four hospitals to see if the findings are consistent in different places.Patient and Public Involvement:
Patients helped us shape the questions from the start, so we could be sure they made sense to real people rather than just researchers.Dissemination and Impact:
We have shared the findings at conferences and are writing them up for publication. The goal is for AMUs across the country to use this approach to collect better feedback.REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0052
Date of REC Opinion
22 Feb 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion