What is known about patient-centered care application in post-surgical breast cancer patients?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Over the past two decades, patient-centered care has become internationally recognized as a dimension of high-quality health care. Recent research has shown that patient-centered care has many benefits, which are broadly categorized as patient experience and clinical and operational benefits. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed at analyzing the correlation between the application of patient-centered care (PCC) and length of stay, patient satisfaction, and clinical outcome of post-surgical breast cancer patients. METHODS: The study design was cross-sectional. A sample of 100 patients was determined and selected with the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using measuring tools comprising patient-centered care and patient satisfaction questionnaires as well as medical records to evaluate the length of stay and clinical outcomes. Bivariate analysis was conducted to analyze the correlation between patient-centered-care and length of stay (LOS), patient satisfaction, and the clinical outcomes of inpatients. RESULTS: A correlation was found between patient-centered care (PCC) application and patient satisfaction (p = 0.005), but no correlation was observed between PCC application and length of stay (LOS) (p = 0.176) as well as clinical outcome (p = 0.128). CONCLUSIONS: The application of patient-centered care can be attributed to patient satisfaction but is not correlated to length of stay and clinical outcome of post-surgical breast cancer patients. The hospital should create an accepted definition and commonly agreed set of dimensions used for the concept of operationalization and its measurement to implement PCC and improve overall patient satisfaction and clinical outcome and reduce the length of stay as expected.