More patient-centered care, better healthcare: the association between patient-centered care and healthcare outcomes in inpatients

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to explore the association between patient-centered care (PCC) and inpatient healthcare outcomes, including self-reported physical and mental health status, subjective necessity of hospitalization, and physician-induced demand behaviors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess patient-centered care among inpatients in comprehensive hospitals through QR codes after discharge from September 2021 to December 2021 and had 5,222 respondents in Jiayuguan, Gansu. The questionnaire included a translated 6-item version of the PCC questionnaire, physician-induced behaviors, and patients' sociodemographic characteristics including gender, household registration, age, and income. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess whether PCC promoted self-reported health, the subjective necessity of hospitalization, and decreased physician-induced demand. The interactions between PCC and household registration were implemented to assess the effect of the difference between adequate and inadequate healthcare resources. RESULTS: PCC promoted the patient's self-reported physical (OR = 4.154, p < 0.001) and mental health (OR = 5.642, p < 0.001) and subjective necessity of hospitalization (OR = 6.160, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, PCC reduced physician-induced demand in advising to buy medicines outside (OR = 0.415, p < 0.001), paying at the outpatient clinic (OR =0.349, p < 0.001), issuing unnecessary or repeated prescriptions and medical tests (OR = 0.320, p < 0.001), and requiring discharge and readmitting (OR = 0.389, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: By improving health outcomes for inpatients and reducing the risk of physician-induced demand, PCC can benefit both patients and health insurance systems. Therefore, PCC should be implemented in healthcare settings.