Abstract
BackgroundThe main objective of this study was to explore the relationships between inpatients’ social differentiation and satisfaction with the medical information delivered by caregivers.MethodsIn four departments of a teaching hospital, patients were enrolled as well as their attending physician and one of the nurses assigned to them. Structured survey questionnaires were administered face-to-face to patients and caregivers. Patients were asked to rate their satisfaction with the medical information received, the quality and duration of the interactions with the caregivers, and their experience regarding their involvement in medical decision-making. Caregivers were asked to rate their perception of the patients’ social position and involvement in medical decision-making. Social deprivation was assessed using the EPICES score in particular. The statistical analysis was mainly descriptive and completed by a structural equation model.ResultsA sample of 255 patients, 221 pairs of patient-physician and 235 pairs of patient-nurse were considered. One third of the patients (32.7%) were identified as socially deprived. They were significantly less satisfied with the information they received on their health status or their treatment; 56.7% of patients thought that they received sufficient explanations without having to ask. This proportion was significantly lower in socially deprived patients (42.3%) compared to not deprived patients (63.6%, p < 0.01). Patients’ reported involvement in medical decision-making was significantly lower for socially deprived patients (75.0% vs 89.0%, p < 0.001). The structural equation model showed that the main determinant of patients’ satisfaction regarding medical information was their perceived involvement in informed medical decision-making (CFI = 0.998, RMSEA = 0.022).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that physicians and nurses need training on communication targeted towards vulnerable patients, in order to improve the accessibility of medical information, and thus to reduce health inequalities.
Highlights
The main objective of this study was to explore the relationships between inpatients’ social differentiation and satisfaction with the medical information delivered by caregivers
Several studies showed that patients from lower social classes receive significantly less information and are significantly less involved in shared decision-making [15,16,17,18]
The main objective of this study was to explore the relationship between inpatients’ social differentiation and their satisfaction with the medical information delivered by the caregivers
Summary
The main objective of this study was to explore the relationships between inpatients’ social differentiation and satisfaction with the medical information delivered by caregivers. Several studies showed that patients from lower social classes receive significantly less information and are significantly less involved in shared decision-making [15,16,17,18]. These patients are usually less proactive in eliciting information and their physicians frequently underestimate their need for it. In the United States, where ethnicity and socioeconomic status are strongly correlated, African-American patients seem to receive less information from their physician after an angiography [15] or in the context of kidney transplantation [19]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
