Short answer

Prioritize the design of accessible, efficient, and responsive healthcare services to improve patient experience, which in turn can lead to more equitable and guideline-adherent treatment outcomes.

Field: Human Factors
Source: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2023)
Method: Quantitative analysis of existing healthcare data
Sample: 2,612 participants
Evidence: Moderate effect

Positive patient experiences, particularly with timely access to care, are associated with a higher likelihood of receiving recommended colorectal cancer treatments, even among patients with multiple comorbidities. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Using Quantitative analysis of existing healthcare data with 2,612 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Prioritize the design of accessible, efficient, and responsive healthcare services to improve patient experience, which in turn can lead to more equitable and guideline-adherent treatment outcomes.

Study

Human FactorsRecentModerate effect

Excellent patient experience with care access increases guideline-concordant colorectal cancer treatment by 5%

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network · 2023

Key Findings

01Patients reporting an excellent experience with getting care quickly were 5% more likely to receive guideline-concordant treatment (GCT) compared to those with less-than-excellent experiences.
02When experiencing less-than-excellent care access, non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely to receive GCT than non-Hispanic White patients, but this disparity reversed when they reported excellent experiences.
03Similarly, Hispanic patients with less-than-excellent experiences in accessing needed care were less likely to receive GCT than non-Hispanic White patients, but this trend shifted to favor Hispanic patients with excellent experiences.

Application

Design takeaway

Prioritize the design of accessible, efficient, and responsive healthcare services to improve patient experience, which in turn can lead to more equitable and guideline-adherent treatment outcomes.

How to apply

When designing healthcare services, patient journey mapping should explicitly include touchpoints related to care access and timeliness. Feedback mechanisms should be implemented to continuously monitor and improve these aspects of patient experience.

Project actions

01Consider how the 'experience' of using a product or service can influence user behavior and outcomes.
02Investigate how different user groups perceive and interact with design elements related to access and efficiency.
03Explore how to design for positive emotional responses in users.

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate the associations between patient experiences with care, race and ethnicity, and the receipt of guideline-concordant colorectal cancer treatment among older adults with multiple comorbidities.

MethodQuantitative analysis of existing healthcare data

ProcedureResearchers analyzed data from the SEER-Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) database, identifying patients aged 67 years or older diagnosed with colorectal cancer and additional chronic conditions between 2001 and 2017. They determined stage-specific guideline-concordant treatment (GCT) based on NCCN guidelines and assessed patient experiences with care using CAHPS survey data. Multivariable log-binomial regression was employed to estimate the associations between demographic factors, patient experiences, and GCT receipt.

Sample2,612 participants

ContextOncology and patient care experience within the healthcare system

Variables

IV["Patient experience with getting care quickly","Patient experience with getting needed care","Race and ethnicity"]

DV["Receipt of guideline-concordant treatment (GCT) for colorectal cancer"]

CV["Age (>=67 years)","Multiple comorbidities","Colorectal cancer diagnosis"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Large sample size from a comprehensive dataset (SEER-CAHPS).
+Focus on a vulnerable population (older adults with multiple comorbidities).
+Investigation of the intersection between patient experience, race/ethnicity, and treatment receipt.

Limitations

Self-reported data can be biased. The study focuses on a specific medical condition and patient demographic, so findings may not generalize to all design contexts. The definition of 'excellent' experience is subjective.

Reliability & validity

The study uses established data sources (SEER-CAHPS) and statistical methods (multivariable log-binomial regression), which lend reliability. Validity is supported by the clear definition of GCT and patient experience metrics, though the subjective nature of experience reporting introduces potential limitations.

Think critically

To what extent can design interventions aimed at improving the 'experience' of a service or product truly overcome systemic barriers that lead to disparities in outcomes?

Design Principles

"Design for optimal patient experience to enhance treatment adherence and reduce health disparities."

This insight highlights the critical role of patient perception and experience in healthcare delivery. Designing systems and processes that prioritize and facilitate positive patient experiences can directly impact the quality and equity of care received, leading to better health outcomes.

What This Means for Your Design

Making it easier and faster for patients to get medical care can help them get the right cancer treatments, especially for older adults with other health problems. This also helps reduce unfair differences in treatment based on race.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing how user experience can influence adherence to product usage or service protocols.
2.Use the findings to justify design choices aimed at improving user access, efficiency, or satisfaction.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The study by Navarro et al. (2023) demonstrates that positive patient experiences with care access, particularly timeliness, are associated with a 5% increase in receiving guideline-concordant colorectal cancer treatment. This highlights the critical role of user experience in influencing adherence to recommended protocols, suggesting that design interventions aimed at improving access and efficiency can lead to better outcomes and potentially mitigate disparities.

Source

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Associations Between Patient Experience With Care, Race and Ethnicity, and Receipt of CRC Treatment Among SEER-CAHPS Patients With Multiple Comorbidities

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about excellent patient experience with care access increases guideline-concordant colorectal cancer treatment by 5%?: Prioritize the design of accessible, efficient, and responsive healthcare services to improve patient experience, which in turn can lead to more equitable and guideline-adherent treatment outcomes. Evidence: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2023).
Why does "Excellent patient experience with care access increases guideline-concordant colorectal cancer treatment by 5%" matter for design?: This insight highlights the critical role of patient perception and experience in healthcare delivery. Designing systems and processes that prioritize and facilitate positive patient experiences can directly impact the quality and equity of care received, leading to better health outcomes.
How can designers apply this research?: Prioritize the design of accessible, efficient, and responsive healthcare services to improve patient experience, which in turn can lead to more equitable and guideline-adherent treatment outcomes.
What were the main findings?: Patients reporting an excellent experience with getting care quickly were 5% more likely to receive guideline-concordant treatment (GCT) compared to those with less-than-excellent experiences.. When experiencing less-than-excellent care access, non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely to receive GCT than non-Hispanic White patients, but this disparity reversed when they reported excellent experiences.. Similarly, Hispanic patients with less-than-excellent experiences in accessing needed care were less likely to receive GCT than non-Hispanic White patients, but this trend shifted to favor Hispanic patients with excellent experiences.
What research method was used?: Quantitative analysis of existing healthcare data with 2,612 participants.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing healthcare services, patient journey mapping should explicitly include touchpoints related to care access and timeliness. Feedback mechanisms should be implemented to continuously monitor and improve these aspects of patient experience.
What are the limitations?: The study relies on self-reported patient experiences, which can be subjective. The data is from a specific period (2001-2017) and may not fully reflect current healthcare practices. The definition of 'excellent' experience is based on survey responses.