The Ward Round: Patients’ Perceptions of a Patient-Centered Approach and Their Suggestions for Improved Participation

Abstract

Linda Aronsson,1 Angelica Frithiof,1 Annie Röstedal,1 Charlotte Rudberg,2 Wilhelmina Ekström3 1Department of Orthopedics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; 2Karolinska Institutet, Women’s Health and Allied Health Professionals Theme, Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; 3Karolinska Institutet, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Department of Trauma, Acute Surgery and Orthopedics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, SwedenCorrespondence: Wilhelmina Ekström, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Department of Trauma, Acute Surgery and Orthopedics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected]: To explore, through a learning activity for healthcare students, how patients perceived the ward round and its patient-centered approach.Patients and Methods: Patients admitted for elective orthopedic surgery were invited to participate in the study, which involved answering a survey comprising seven intersectional questions and eight free text questions. In addition, medical and nursing students did semi-structured interviews with the patients, covering the same free text questions. Twenty-three patients answered the survey, of whom fifteen also completed the interviews. The results from the interviews were explored using a thematic content analysis.Results: Forty-three percent (10/23) of the patients strongly agreed or agreed that their knowledge of patient-centered ward round was sufficient to be able to participate actively, and thirty percent (7/23) indicated they had good knowledge of the laws and regulations governing the care of patients. Most of the patients felt satisfied with how their own and their relatives’ experiences were taken into account. The categories information and to be listened to were mentioned repeatedly by patients as priorities for patient-centered ward rounds. The interview analysis revealed four main categories: preparation, communication, organization, and safety as important and in need of improvement.Conclusion: Less than half of the patients surveyed felt they could participate in the ward round, which indicates that there is an opportunity for improvement and development. Better information and communication about legal rights, as well as about the structure and content of the ward round, could be valuable to patients before admission. It is also important to find a way for patients’ individual wishes to be more fully and easily conveyed to medical staff. Creating a more tailor-made ward round for each patient and fulfilling a patient-centered approach will likely entail a substantial organizational and mental shift.Keywords: patient-centered, ward round, patient perception, patient representative, learning activity

Keywords

• patient-centered
• ward round
• patient perception
• patient representative
• learning activity