Factors associated with perception of quality of care in cancer patients during hospitalization.

Abstract

Background : Quality of care is the primary goal of health care services that emphasizes on patient’s point of view and their re - experience. There are several factors involving the quality of care which includes the patient’s preference for participation in symptom management, perceived symptom severity, gender and number of inpatients admitted.

Objective : To study the relationships between patients’ preferences for participation in symptom management, perceived symptom severity, gender, number of inpatients admitted, and perception of quality of care in cancer patients during hospitalization.

Design : Descriptive correlational research.

Setting : Department of Oncology and Hematology Unit, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Materials and Methods : A total of 97 patients with cancer were recruited in this study using purposive sampling. Data were collected from June to October 2015 by using demographic data questionnaire, Control Preference Scale, Global Distress Index, and Quality of Care in Patient’s Perspectives - Short Form.

Results : The majority of the subjects were males (61.9 %), the participation in symptom management of patients preferred “passive” role (47.4%) and the patient perceived quality of care was of a balanced high quality (43.3%). As for the relationships among study variables, perceived symptom severity and the number of inpatients stay were significantly correlated to perceived quality of care (χ² = 10.50, P =.03; χ² = 6.79, P =.009). Gender and patient’s preference for participation in managing symptoms were not correlated with the perceived quality of care (r_pb = .92 and χ² = 8.32, P = .079)

Conclusion : Nurses should focus their care on reducing symptom severity in cancer patients during hospitalization, particularly in those admitted more frequently who perceived the quality of care as low.