National data and trends
Picker Institute Europe research has looked at:
National trends in the NHS survey programme in England
Trends in patient engagement in England and internationally, comparing the UK to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Germany and the USA.
National trends in the NHS surveys
The national NHS patient surveys provide a wealth of data about the quality of healthcare services in England both over time and in individual care areas:
Individual national survey trends
Picker Institute Europe has examined the findings of individual national surveys, on behalf of the Care Quality Commission in the form of key findings reports.Trends over time
Analysis has been carried out of findings year-on-year and the progress being made towards a more patient-centred service in the NHS.
'Is the NHS becoming more patient-centred?' examines the results of 26 national patient surveys between 2002 and 2007.
Trends in patient engagement
Patient engagement in England
Data from national patient surveys in England show a very strong match between the degree of patient involvement in decisions and their satisfaction with the quality of care.
For example, in 2008, primary care patients who reported being fully involved in decisions scored their satisfaction level at 94%. Those who said they were not involved scored only 44%.
The evidence from national patient surveys in England is that patient engagement is not strong in the NHS, and is not improving over time.
- in 2007 49% of hospital inpatients said they were not as involved as they wished to be in decisions about their care and treatment -- worse than in 2005
- in 2008 30% of primary care patients said they were not as involved as they wanted to be in decisions about their care and treatment -- a very small improvement since 2004
- in all other national patient surveys between one third and one half of patients gave the same answer.
Reviewing these trends in 2007, the Picker Institute said patient engagement was 'flatlining'.
Trends in patient engagement internationally
Picker Insitute Europe analysed data from the Commonwealth Fund's international health policy surveys carried out in 2004 and 2005 to examine the extent to which health professionals support patients to play an active role in their healthcare.
Read'Engaging patients in their healthcare: how is the UK doing relative to other countries?'