Biomedical subjects

M Avis

Publications and source records attributed to M Avis.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

Satisfying solutions? A review of some unresolved issues in the measurement of patient satisfaction.

The measurement of patient satisfaction has been encouraged by a growing consumer orientation in health care, especially since it yields information about consumers' views in a form which can be used for comparison and monitoring. However, drawing on literature from a variety of sources, this paper suggests that there remain several unresolved issues relating to the measurement of satisfaction, and some serious questions about the validity of the concept. It is argued that current approaches to measuring satisfaction may not be grounded in the values and experiences of patients; therefore satisfaction surveys could be denying patients the opportunity to have their opinions included in the planning and evaluation of health care services.

Consumer Advocacy↗

PubMed1995

Exploring patient satisfaction with out-patient services.

Despite the widespread use of satisfaction surveys to obtain patients' views about health services, the validity and relevance of self-completion questionnaire surveys has been questioned. This paper reports on an exploratory, qualitative investigation into patients' perspectives on satisfaction and dissatisfaction with out-patient care. Eighty-one new referrals to two out-patient clinics were interviewed before and after their first consultation. Of this initial sample, 23 were interviewed again at their follow-up appointment and a further 10 were interviewed in depth at a location of their choice. The features of the service that drew appreciative comments when they were thought to be present, and criticism when they were felt to be lacking, were: humanity, efficiency, informativeness and continuity of communication. Examples of these features are discussed using patients' own words to illustrate their perspectives. The study demonstrates that unstructured approaches to service evaluation can be employed to develop services which are genuinely listening to their users' views.

Ambulatory Care↗

PubMed1994

Choice cuts: an exploratory study of patients' views about participation in decision-making in a day surgery unit.

Patient participation is widely recognized as a principle of ethical health care and linked to benefits in treatment outcome. Even so there is evidence that patients do not recognise their participatory role. This exploratory study aimed to investigate patients' perspectives on choice in a day surgical unit. It involved non-participant observation of 12 patients in a pre-surgical assessment clinic and in depth interviews with 10 patients following surgery. Their expectations of participation can be summarised as "being told" and "going in to get it fixed". Patients had an instrumental model of involvement and considered themselves as the professional's "work object", which constrained scope for participation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Reading research critically. I. An introduction to appraisal: designs and objectives.

This is the first of two articles providing an introduction to appraising published research critically. In this paper three styles of research are presented and the basic types of research objectives and designs are briefly described.

Humans↗

PubMed1994

Reading research critically. II. An introduction to appraisal: assessing the evidence.

This is the second of two articles providing an introduction to the critical appraisal of research reports. In this paper guidelines for evaluating the quality of evidence and the validity of conclusions are suggested, and a check-list of evaluation points is presented.

Bias↗

PubMed1992

Silent partners. Patients' views about choice and decision making in a day unit.

The profile of day case surgery has been gaining prominence in the last decade. Improvements in surgical techniques have allowed a greater range and number of surgical procedures to be performed on a day case basis. Day case surgery also offers considerable efficiency benefits, with lower cost per case than the equivalent in patient treatment. Consequently, the number of surgical day cases has been increasing rapidly although considerable variation still exists between districts. A further advantage of day case surgery arises from its compatibility with the consumerism inherent in the health service reforms. The flexibility and speed of day case surgery permits a response to consumers' demands for a service that meets their needs rather than the hospitals. It offers a reduction in waiting times and the choice to avoid the arduous and often traumatic experience of being admitted to hospital. Bowling, in a short review of the research evidence, suggests that day case surgery generally meets with consistently high levels of patient satisfaction. The most welcome aspect of the recent health service reform is, perhaps, the emphasis on patients' rights and individual choice. Nurses, who are often the closest to the patients, have frequently drawn attention to the need for partnership, and an informed and participative relationship with the patient. While the Department of Health's genuine commitment to patient choice and participation may be little more than skin deep, in the case of day case surgery it appears that consumption and the improvements in efficiency desired by the government may be compatible with nurses' aspirations for greater patient choice.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Consumer cures.

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Authoritarianism↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Quality as participation.

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Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Patients' choice.

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Choice Behavior↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Distant voices.

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Aged↗