Great expectations: A multisite, randomized controlled open‐label trial of a novel patient expectations communication tool

Abstract Objectives In emergency medicine (EM), discerning patient expectations to inform patient‐centered care poses unique challenges. We devised a novel questionnaire to facilitate clinicians’ understanding of patients’ expectations for their visit. Methods We conducted a multisite, randomized co...

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Main Authors: Jennifer Chapman, Michael Wakely, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Piwowarski, Martin P. Wegman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-08-01
Series:Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13229
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author Jennifer Chapman
Michael Wakely
Kelsey Leonard
Elizabeth Piwowarski
Martin P. Wegman
author_facet Jennifer Chapman
Michael Wakely
Kelsey Leonard
Elizabeth Piwowarski
Martin P. Wegman
author_sort Jennifer Chapman
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives In emergency medicine (EM), discerning patient expectations to inform patient‐centered care poses unique challenges. We devised a novel questionnaire to facilitate clinicians’ understanding of patients’ expectations for their visit. Methods We conducted a multisite, randomized controlled trial. A brief questionnaire soliciting patient expectations was developed through feedback from clinicians and patients. At the beginning of their visit, the intervention group patients completed the questionnaire and provided it to their treating clinician. The control group patients received standard care. Participants in both groups completed a survey at time of disposition assessing five satisfaction domains. The primary ordinal logistic regression analysis modeled the extent to which the intervention led to patient‐reported improvement in clinician understanding of expectations with adjustment for demographic factors and site. Results Among the 308 participants, 141 intervention and 123 control exit surveys were collected. In the primary analysis, the intervention group had 2.1 times greater odds of strongly agreeing that their clinician understood their expectations (odds ratio: 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.2, 3.7, p‐value: 0.01), roughly equivalent to a net number needed to treat of 11 for one more improved satisfaction rating. Although the secondary outcome results were not significantly different between groups, all results tended toward the intervention group having more favorable answers. Conclusions While more patients reported that their expectations were addressed when the novel tool was used, no significant difference was found for conventional satisfaction measures. Future studies may examine whether a tool to elicit patient expectations can lead to other improved outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-08e839e7dad24070a034ab87a534fd8c2025-08-20T01:58:46ZengElsevierJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open2688-11522024-08-0154n/an/a10.1002/emp2.13229Great expectations: A multisite, randomized controlled open‐label trial of a novel patient expectations communication toolJennifer Chapman0Michael Wakely1Kelsey Leonard2Elizabeth Piwowarski3Martin P. Wegman4Department of Emergency Medicine HCA Florida—Orange Park Hospital Orange Park Florida USADepartment of Emergency Medicine HCA Florida—Orange Park Hospital Orange Park Florida USADepartment of Emergency Medicine HCA Florida—Orange Park Hospital Orange Park Florida USADepartment of Emergency Medicine HCA Florida—Orange Park Hospital Orange Park Florida USADepartment of Emergency Medicine HCA Florida—Orange Park Hospital Orange Park Florida USAAbstract Objectives In emergency medicine (EM), discerning patient expectations to inform patient‐centered care poses unique challenges. We devised a novel questionnaire to facilitate clinicians’ understanding of patients’ expectations for their visit. Methods We conducted a multisite, randomized controlled trial. A brief questionnaire soliciting patient expectations was developed through feedback from clinicians and patients. At the beginning of their visit, the intervention group patients completed the questionnaire and provided it to their treating clinician. The control group patients received standard care. Participants in both groups completed a survey at time of disposition assessing five satisfaction domains. The primary ordinal logistic regression analysis modeled the extent to which the intervention led to patient‐reported improvement in clinician understanding of expectations with adjustment for demographic factors and site. Results Among the 308 participants, 141 intervention and 123 control exit surveys were collected. In the primary analysis, the intervention group had 2.1 times greater odds of strongly agreeing that their clinician understood their expectations (odds ratio: 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.2, 3.7, p‐value: 0.01), roughly equivalent to a net number needed to treat of 11 for one more improved satisfaction rating. Although the secondary outcome results were not significantly different between groups, all results tended toward the intervention group having more favorable answers. Conclusions While more patients reported that their expectations were addressed when the novel tool was used, no significant difference was found for conventional satisfaction measures. Future studies may examine whether a tool to elicit patient expectations can lead to other improved outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13229emergency servicehospitalpatient satisfactionperceptionpersonal satisfactionsurveys and questionnaires
spellingShingle Jennifer Chapman
Michael Wakely
Kelsey Leonard
Elizabeth Piwowarski
Martin P. Wegman
Great expectations: A multisite, randomized controlled open‐label trial of a novel patient expectations communication tool
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
emergency service
hospital
patient satisfaction
perception
personal satisfaction
surveys and questionnaires
title Great expectations: A multisite, randomized controlled open‐label trial of a novel patient expectations communication tool
title_full Great expectations: A multisite, randomized controlled open‐label trial of a novel patient expectations communication tool
title_fullStr Great expectations: A multisite, randomized controlled open‐label trial of a novel patient expectations communication tool
title_full_unstemmed Great expectations: A multisite, randomized controlled open‐label trial of a novel patient expectations communication tool
title_short Great expectations: A multisite, randomized controlled open‐label trial of a novel patient expectations communication tool
title_sort great expectations a multisite randomized controlled open label trial of a novel patient expectations communication tool
topic emergency service
hospital
patient satisfaction
perception
personal satisfaction
surveys and questionnaires
url https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13229
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