Patients and health care professionals: partners in health care in Croatia?

OBJECTIVES To explore quality in hospitals from the patients' and health care professionals' perspective in line with Act on the Protection of Patient Rights. DESIGN A qualitative study using a focus group design and semi-structured interviews. METHODS Three focus groups among health care professionals were conducted with 51 participants: 24 nurses and medical technicians, 15 physicians, 12 residents, followed by additional interviews (20 nurses and medical technicians, 10 physicians, and 2 residents). Twenty patients were interviewed at the time of their discharge from the hospital. Collected data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Patients identified waiting for medical treatments/procedures as the most concerning factor, followed by changes in administration procedures and admission in hospitals. From the physicians' and nurses' perspective, the main topics were inadequate resources to work with and inadequate working environment. Residents emphasized administration and lack of adequate equipment in contrast to other health care professionals. Both patients and health care professionals identified similar organizational and administrative issues impacting on service delivery. CONCLUSIONS Health care providers and patients equally recognize the factors that impact upon quality of care. This problem is beyond the health care professionals' possibility to solve, which is the main source of stress and burnout that influence the quality of care. These factors cannot be overcome, by either health care professionals or patient organizations working alone. Greater partnership between health providers and patient associations is needed. STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTION What is already known on this subject? Healthcare providers and patients have the same goal: good quality of care and safety. Croatia has undergone significant socio-economic and political changes, which have affected the organization of the health care system. The patient experience is positively associated with clinical effectiveness and patient safety. What does this study add? From the perspective of patients and health professionals the main concern regarding quality of care is the organization of work in hospitals. Croatian patients and health professionals show considerable agreement with regard to the administrative problems in hospitals. Solutions that include only efforts on the part of the health care worker will fail.