The impact of patient-centered care on quality of life and hope among patients receiving home medical care: The Zaitaku Evaluative Initiatives and Outcome Study

Abstract

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the correlation between the quality of patient-centered care and quality of life and hope among patients receiving home medical care.DesignMulticenter cross-sectional studySetting and ParticipantsThis study was part of the Zaitaku Evaluative Initiatives and Outcome Study involving 29 home care clinics in Japan. The participants were patients receiving home medical care who were judged capable of responding to the questionnaire survey by their attending physician.MethodsPatient centeredness, the exposure variable, was measured using the Japanese version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool–Short Form (JPCAT-SF). Outcomes, namely quality of life and hope, were measured utilizing the Quality of Life-Home Care (QOL-HC) and Health-Related Hope (HR-Hope) scales, respectively. Mixed-effects linear regression models were applied, incorporating covariates such as age, sex, education, family member presence, comorbidities (primary and other), depressive symptoms, residence type, and patient life expectancy.ResultsAmong the 194 participants, a notable association was found, wherein a higher JPCAT-SF total score correlated with an elevated QOL-HC score (adjusted mean difference per 10-point increase: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.17–0.42). Within the JPCAT-SF domains, elevated scores for first contact, longitudinality, comprehensiveness, and community orientation were correlated with higher QOL-HC scores. Additionally, a higher JPCAT-SF total score was associated with elevated HR-Hope levels (adjusted mean difference per 10-point increase: 5.1, 95% CI: 3.2–7). Higher scores for first contact, longitudinality, coordination, comprehensiveness, and community orientation were associated with higher HR-Hope scores.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe findings underscore that higher quality patient-centered care is positively associated with enhanced quality of life and hope among home medical care patients. This study highlights the importance of strengthening patient centeredness in daily clinical practice.