Patient trust in healthcare professionals (HCPs) is essential for effective care delivery. This study examined factors associated with trust in HCPs in relation to sociodemographic characteristics, digital health engagement, self-management behaviours, and perceived provider communication. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among adults in Oman using items adapted from the Health Information National Trends Survey. Trust was dichotomised as always or usually versus sometimes or never. A participant-level Digital Engagement Index (DEI) was constructed by summing seven three-point items on willingness to share information electronically. Of 325 participants, 214 (65.8%) reported trust their HCPs. The DEI was internally consistent (Cronbach’s alpha 0.907) and unidimensional. In multivariable analysis, trust was significantly associated with: perceived careful listening (adjusted OR 10.02, 95%CI 3.24 to 30.99; P<0.001), taking a list of questions to consultations (adjusted OR 2.76, 95%CI 1.19 to 6.41; P=0.019) and the DEI (adjusted OR 1.09 per point, 95%CI 1.02 to 1.18; P=0.016). Findings reveal an emerging triad of trust, Provider listening, consultation preparedness and digital engagement, that jointly defines patient trust in HCPs within modern healthcare.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a major global health challenge, with growing dependence on in-center hemodialysis. While most studies focus on clinical outcomes, less is known about patients’ lived experiences in low- and middle-income countries, where socioeconomic and systemic barriers intensify these struggles. This study examined the unmet needs of hemodialysis patients in Pampanga, Philippines, incorporating perspectives from patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted across three sites—San Fernando City, Angeles City, and Guagua—with 45 participants (20 patients, 15 caregivers, and 10 providers). Data were thematically analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, supported by MAXQDA. Findings revealed multiple unmet needs, including limited awareness of financial assistance, inadequate understanding of CKD, and high out-of-pocket costs, underscoring the need for stronger education and expanded subsidies. Participants also reported transportation barriers, mobility difficulties, and poor access to mental health services. A desire for more empathetic caregiving and peer support also emerged. Addressing these gaps through financial, educational, and psychosocial interventions is critical to improving the quality and equity of renal care in resource-limited settings.
The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) surveys are widely used to assess patient experience with healthcare in the United States. These surveys focus on how often specific aspects of care occur, such as how often providers explain things in an easy-to-understand way. Not enough is known about the overlap among the CAHPS Clinician and Group Survey 3.1 multi-item composites (communication, care coordination, access, and office staff). Adults who visited a healthcare provider in the United States within the past 12 months completed an online patient experience survey in either English or Spanish (n=5,129): 58% female, 44% 55 years or older, 27% had a high school education or less, and 33% had a household income of less than $50,000. A four-factor categorical model yielded estimated correlations ranging from 0.65 (office staff with access) to 0.97 (communication with care coordination). The overlap of the communication and care coordination items suggests that they could be scored together as a single composite. Alternatively, users might include additional care coordination items that are distinct from the communication composite, or supplement the survey with direct observation, chart review, and process measures. A bifactor model supported the use of a summary score estimated from the 4 CAHPS composites. The summary patient experience score was most accurate at assessing negative perceptions of care. It could be useful for oversight by stakeholders such as the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, for linking payments to performance, and calculating overall value metrics.
Inpatient falls remain a major patient safety concern; yet, existing research has rarely examined fall-related factors from the hospitalised patients’ perspective. Understanding how patients perceive and experience falls is essential for developing effective prevention strategies. This study systematically synthesised qualitative evidence on fall-related factors based on patients’ lived experiences during hospitalisation. A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The analysis identified six themes: risk-recognition factors, learning factors, physical factors, psychological factors, environmental factors, and unknown reasons for falls. A temporal pattern emerged across the hospitalisation trajectory: (1) ‘readaptation to the body and environment’, (2) ‘expansion of autonomy accompanying recovery’, and (3) ‘fatigue associated with rehabilitation training’. Furthermore, the findings suggested that falls in the hospital are not merely accidental physical incidents, but they may occur as patients attempt to re-evaluate their altered physical functions and adapt to them within the unfamiliar hospital environment. These findings highlight the requirement for a patient-centred approach to fall prevention that considers these changes during patients’ recovery and adaptation to the hospital environment.
Intravitreal injections (IVI) are among the most frequently performed ophthalmic procedures, often requiring repeated administration for chronic retinal diseases. As treatment burden increases, the patient experience, encompassing procedural comfort, anxiety, trust in the care team, and emotional engagement with long-term therapy, has emerged as an important consideration in modern retina practice. Ocular anesthesia plays a central role in minimizing pain and may help reduce anxiety and support adherence to therapy. This article examines ocular anesthesia techniques used in intravitreal therapy through a patient-experience lens, with a focus on patient-reported comfort, procedural efficiency, and clinical safety. Current techniques include topical anesthetic drops, gels, anesthetic-soaked pledgets, and less commonly, subconjunctival injections or regional blocks. Current literature has not identified a single superior technique, which highlights the importance of individualized, patient-centered selection based on comfort, anxiety, and prior experience. We propose a patient-centered framework that integrates expectations, communication, feedback, and we identify gaps in current knowledge and priorities for future research. Continued emphasis on patient experience, alongside well-tolerated and practical anesthetic options, may support adherence to long-term therapy and optimize outcomes in retinal disease management.
