Patient Experience Factors and Health-Related Quality of Life in Hospitalized Individuals

PURPOSE: To identify a relationship between patient satisfaction with the hospital experience and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), as well as determine predictors of each variable. PARTICIPANTS A SETTING: 50 patients with cancer in two adult oncology units in an academic health sciences center. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. Patient satisfaction was measured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) and HRQOL was assessed using the Quality of Life Patient/Cancer Survivor (QOL-CS) version. FINDINGS: Patients who were single, diagnosed for 6-10 years, and diagnosed for 11 years or longer had significantly lower patient satisfaction scores. Patients with public insurance, diagnosed for 6-10 years, and diagnosed for 11 years or longer had lower QOL-CS scores. Physical and social well-being scores were associated with higher HCAHPS scores. There was a positive relationship between patient satisfaction and physical and social functioning. Patient demographics were related to patient satisfaction and HRQOL. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses should have measurable goals to provide high-quality care to patients with cancer, including satisfaction during hospitalization and promotion of HRQOL.