Partnering with consumers to co-design a person-centred coding framework for qualitative patient experience data.

BACKGROUND:Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREMs) provide health organisations insight into how 'person-centric' care is. Qualitative data in PREMs surveys provide essential context about experience but are challenging to analyse at an organisational level. OBJECTIVE:To co-design a person-centred coding framework to assist in the analysis of qualitative PREMs data. PATIENT INVOLVEMENT:Consumer representatives were involved in problem identification, co-design, coding of raw data (testing), evaluation and manuscript authorship. METHODOLOGY:Co-design principles guided production of a deductive coding framework with Picker Principles of Person-Centred Care as a conceptual framework. The framework was co-designed over 4 stages, with cross-professional stakeholders (including two consumer representatives): 1) assessment of current state and understanding priorities; 2) adapting Picker Principles of Person-Centred Care as a coding framework; 3) testing and evaluation of a coding template over two quality improvement (QI) cycles against measures of inter-coder reliability and perceived usefulness; 4) endorsement and planning for implementation. RESULTS:The Picker Principles were a suitable coding framework for inpatient PREMs data, and a coding template in an electronic spreadsheet met end-user needs. Results of the first QI cycle indicated a need for 'less academic' domain names and definitions, which were reviewed and updated to a first-person perspective in partnership with a consumer representative. Inter-coder reliability measures and qualitative feedback improved after cycle two testing and evaluation. DISCUSSION:This single site study produced a feasible solution to apply person-centred principles to analyse PREMs data and requires testing in different settings. Cross-disciplinary partnerships enabled the development of a reliable and acceptable deductive coding framework that was usable for people without prior experience in qualitative data analysis. PRACTICAL VALUE:Our solution offers an example for health services to harness the value of qualitative PREMs data and partner with consumers to take person-centric action to improve the safety, equity, and experience of healthcare.