How to improve the quality of medical hospital treatment and person-centered care: working conditions and job satisfaction as preconditions for satisfying medical care in German hospitals

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Published: Jun 25, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5750/ijpcm.v2i2.226
Keywords:
Clinical communication job satisfaction patient satisfaction person-centered care quality of care working conditions

Main Article Content

Stefanie Mache
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Occupational Medicine and Department of Medicine/Psychosomatics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Free University and Humboldt University, Berlin and Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Karin Vitzthum
Burghard F. Klapp
David A. Groneberg

Abstract

Background: In Germany, the awareness of high quality treatment and patients’ satisfaction with hospital care is becoming increasingly important. Understanding how patients’ perceptions of medical treatment and care is related and affected by physicians’ perceptions of their working conditions can improve the quality of medical care. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate patients’ satisfaction and to determine influencing factors associated with patients’ assessments.Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was performed including 119 patients and 104 clinicians working in five internal medicine hospital departments. Patients completed an anonymous questionnaire covering socio-demographic and visit characteristics and satisfaction with medical service. Physicians evaluated their working conditions and job satisfaction by answering the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire.Results: The results showed that most of the patients were satisfied with the medical treatment and care provided. Physicians’ job satisfaction was evaluated with moderate scores. We found strong correlations between patient satisfaction and physicians’ job satisfaction and assessments of their working conditions.Conclusion: We concluded that better working conditions are associated with a higher patient satisfaction. In general, patients were satisfied with medical hospital treatment. Further research is needed to obtain specific information on individual patient’s views on specific components of physicians’ medical treatment on a qualitative research basis (e.g. interviews) and how these factors can increase the person-centeredness of clinical services.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2012): June
Section
Regular Articles
Author Biography

Stefanie Mache, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Occupational Medicine and Department of Medicine/Psychosomatics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Free University and Humboldt University, Berlin and Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Dr. Stefanie Mache, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Free University and Humboldt University, Thielallee 69-73, 14195, Berlin, Germany.

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