Why don’t the Dutch use quality information in their hospital choice? Results from a survey among 479 patients from a Dutch hospital ()
Keywords:Hospital Choice; Quality Information; Survey
1. INTRODUCTION
The development of relevant information about the quality of hospitals increases. As a result patients are increasingly able to utilize this information in their hospital choice [1-5] (Marshall et al., 2000; Lugtenberg & Westert, 2007; Dijs-Elsinga et al., 2010; Marangh-van de Mheen, 2011; Wolters & Lako, 2012).
In the Netherlands (2003-2006) the Health Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet) is grounded on a demanddriven health care system model. The patient is considered as a rational consumer being able to make independent decisions. This also concerns their hospital choice.
Offering freedom of choice however is not sufficient. The public release of performance data in the form of quality and outcomes information about hospitals and providers is deemed necessary [6] (Lako & Rosenau, 2009).
It is suggested that freedom of choice and public release of performance data will contribute to a better quality of care. The supply of performance data is supposed to enable the patients to determine the best hospital and to choose that hospital. Hospitals therefore need to deliver excellent quality of care as patients might opt for another hospital.
The Dutch experience on hospital choice reflects on the extent to which individuals are critical consumers, and on the nature and motives behind their decisions. Dutch surveys into hospital choice however reveal that patients do not or barely use quality information in their hospital choice [3,5,7,8] (Dijs-Elzinga et al., 2010; De Groot et al., 2011; Dautzenberg et al., 2012; Wolters & Lako, 2012). Similar studies in other countries show the same outcomes [1,9-12] (Schneider & Epstein, 1998; Marshall et al., 2000; Schauffler & Mordavsky, 2001; Magee et al., 2003; Fung et al., 2008). This indicates that the theory about demand-driven care is not sufficiently confirmed by empirical research. In this article we aim to contribute to the growing body of literature criticizing this theory. To this end, we argue for the benefits of an empirical test of the theory. To illustrate the benefits of this approach, we identify several assumptions underlying the theory about demand-driven care. We use them in a survey among 479 patients visiting the hospital clinics of departments of a Dutch hospital. We then present the outcomes of a statistical analysis designed to answer the question what variables are related to the barely use of quality information. The article concludes conclusions and recommendations for hospital choice.
There are several explanations for the lack of confirmation of the theory about demand-driven care. Several assumptions underlie this demand-driven model and research shows that these assumptions are not always valid or even seldom valid. Assumptions can be divided into assumptions about competition, variation in supply, quality of information, the exit option and the voice option [13] (Van’t Hoog, 2013).
Assumptions about competition refer to questions about sufficient providers and sufficient incentives for market participation. A lack of competition decreases the freedom of choice among patients. The same applies for regulations limiting the access of new clinics to the hospital market.
It is assumed that a lack of variation in supply restricts the freedom of choice. Is there a real choice for patients and do providers really respond to the needs of patients coming to their hospitals? These are questions about variation and response.
Even more important are assumptions about the quality of information.
First, it is often assumed that patients are aware of differences in quality of care. A systematic review [14] (Faber et al. 2009) shows that this assumption is not valid.
Secondly, it is generally assumed that patients favor quality information [15] (Kolstad & Chernew, 2009). Other studies however reveal that only a minority is interested in comparative data [3] (Dijs-Elsinga et al., 2010).
Thirdly, it is assumed that quality information about health plans, hospitals, and physicians actually exists. Performance data about hospitals is simply not always available. The fourth assumption is that performance information, if it exists, will be made available to the patient for his or her use in making health care choices. This is not true. Information is not free. Organization sometimes charges several euros for the release of performance information.
The fifth assumption is that the form in which that information is made available is understandable and can be applied to the health care choices that the patient is called upon to make. Research reveals that this is not always the case. Tables with information cannot be simply read.
The sixth assumption is that the patient is qualified to use the performance information that is available [6] (Lako & Rosenau, 2009). Patients however are not so sure and sometimes turn to others for advice instead of using performance data.
The seventh assumption is that the patient values the performance information. This is not always true. Studies of [16] Schwartz (2005) have shown that increasing consumer choice by offering more information leads to stress and disappointment.
The eighth assumption is that patients trust performance information. This is not always true. Data are distrusted, but also the sources of information.
The ninth assumption is that patients do not have other criteria than performance data. Evidence shows that they actually do have other criteria in mind. It is for instance suggested that advice from GP’s is given greater weight in decision making than performance data.
Finally, it is assumed that patients will actually use performance data in making their health choice. Numerous studies however show that only a minority actually use the performance data in their hospital choice [17] (Werner & Asch, 2005).
The theory about an exit option suggests that patients should be able to terminate their relationship with a physician, to leave the hospital and to choose another hospital. That might further the quality of care. Procedures in hospitals however mostly decrease the exit option.
The same applies for the voice options. The theory suggests that the opportunity in a hospital for patients to put forward their complaints might further the quality of care as well. Actually, these patient rights are sometimes restricted in hospitals. This does not favor the quality of care [13] (Van’t Hoog, 2013).
The article is meant to study why the Dutch patients don’t use quality information. What factors can actually explain the differences between those using performance information and those not using this information?
Several factors including gender, age, education level, health status, trust in GP, perceived differences in quality, trust in reliability of information, awareness of freedom of choice, self-efficacy and time might explain the differences between these categories of patients.
2. METHODS
2.1. Sample
In May 2013, a sample was drawn from patients who were seeking outpatient care from hospital-based clinics in a Dutch hospital in the Eastern part of the Netherlands. Some sought screening or testing that was too complicated to be performed in a doctor’s office. Others were at the hospital for outpatient procedures. It was a convenience sample.
A total of 479 patients visiting the specified hospital clinics were included in the sample and were questioned as to hospital choice and use of quality information. The response rate was 81.9% (n = 479). The sample was representative of the Dutch population visiting a hospital in 2012 except for age; not surprisingly, those less than 20 years of age were under-represented.
2.2. Questionnaire
Patients with non-acute ailments visiting the hospital clinics of several departments of a Dutch hospital including ENT, orthopedics and surgery were asked to fill out a short, self-administered questionnaire about hospital choice.
Respondents were queried about the utilization of quality information and whether this information was decisive for their hospital choice.
They were also asked about the details of their decision making process, especially regarding sources consulted before coming to the hospital. Patients were surveyed about the importance they attached to different types of information.
Information about several socio-demographic variables was also included in the questionnaire. It concerns age, education level, etc.
2.3. Data-Analysis
Data were analyzed with SPSS. Logistic regression analysis was performed to detect differences between nonusers and users of quality information.
Logistic regression analysis is a multivariate technique. It is very appropriate for our design.
3. RESULTS
In Table 1, characteristics of the patients who participated in the study are given. The sample was representative of the Dutch population visiting a hospital in 2012 except for age; not surprisingly, those less than 20 years
Table 1 . Characteristics of the patients (n = 479).
of age were under-represented.
A considerable portion of the patients (44%) reported that they were not aware of the existence of quality information whereas almost 50% had heard about it. The remaining 6% of the interviewees did not answer the question. Only somewhat more than 5% (n = 22) of the patients had actually seen the quality information and 4% (n = 17) had used it in their hospital choice.
Table 2 presents outcomes for the patients that did not use quality information in their hospital choice. It shows the factors that these patients report as decisive in their hospital choice. They sometimes listed more factors. In total 599 answers were given. Previous experience and opinion of the GP have been listed frequently.
Logistic regression analysis was subsequently performed to uncover which variables explain the differences between users and nonusers of quality information.
From Table 3 it can be derived that nonusers compared to users have been shown to:
Table 2. Decisive factors in hospital choice listed by patients not using quality information.
Table 3. Regression analysis on utilization of quality information.
-Be more frequently females;
-Be relatively older;
-Trust GP’s relatively or distrust GP’s somewhat;
-Distrust quality information more often.
No relationships between the patient’s education level, health status, perceived differences in quality, awareness of freedom of choice, self-efficacy, time and the utilization of quality information could be established.
4. DISCUSSION
Every empirical study involves limitations as does this study.
Some caution with the results is needed. The sample does not represent all Dutch patients visiting a hospital since younger people are somewhat under-represented in this study. Data collection via a self-administered questionnaire is assumed to have resulted in less bias. The risk of social desirability in answering questions has been reduced by the utilization of this type of self-administered questionnaire. In person, one-on-one interviews with patients would probably have resulted in more social desirability effects. One might also ask whether or not patients in our study were likely to have been referred by a clinician from another hospital, but we sampled patients with non-acute ailments to reduce this bias.
It might be that the patients in our study in general did not behave as rational consumers since their perception of quality and the awareness of freedom of choice were not related to the utilization of quality information. The findings suggest that patients without any trust in their GP tend to use more quality information than other patients. Written information is more important for them than personal information. The utilization of quality information is also more prevalent among those patients trusting their GP’s completely. The data cannot reveal why they do so. It might be that their GP’s suggest them to use the quality information. A recent Dutch study shows that some GP’s discuss the quality information with their patients seeking advice in hospital choice [18] (Ikkersheim & Koolman, 2013).
It has been shown that the reliability of the quality information is actually important. Some patients do not trust this information and they have proven to use less quality information than those trusting the quality information. The use of quality information is finally less prevalent among female and elderly patients as these patients generally trust their GP’s more.