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Peer-reviewedCC BYHealth policy OPEN

Empowering patients to choose and providers to improve. A focus group study on quality information needs in Switzerland's in- and outpatient somatic care

  • Carla Walker1
  • Maxime Sapin1
  • Sarah Mantwill2
  • Justus Vogel1
  • David Ehlig1
  • Alexander Geissler1
  1. 1Chair of Health Economics, Policy and Management, School of Medicine, University of St. Gallen, St.-Jakob-Strasse 21, St. Gallen, CH-9000, Switzerland
  2. 2Department of Health Sciences & Medicine, University of Lucerne, Switzerland
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Abstract

Background

Quality monitoring ensures quality standards and improvement, while public reporting aims to inform patient choice. In Switzerland, quality monitoring and public reporting have fallen short of stakeholder expectations due to a misalignment with needs.Objectives

This study explores stakeholder needs in inpatient and outpatient care for public reporting and quality monitoring in Switzerland.Methods

In 2023, nine focus groups with 50 stakeholders from in- and outpatient somatic care were conducted. The data underwent qualitative content analysis to identify themes related to the purpose, challenges, and drivers of public reporting and quality monitoring, as well as indicator selection criteria.Results

Public participants emphasised accessible quality information to guide decisions, especially in chronic or serious illness. A major gap was a single point of contact for navigating care and shared decision-making. Public and expert views diverged on who should access and interpret quality data. Experts prioritised monitoring for internal improvement. Both groups cited administrative burden and system fragmentation as key barriers.Conclusion

While patients seek more involvement and access to data, expert reluctance to share quality information persists. Advancing public reporting requires recognising the public as a core audience and addressing data challenges through a national strategy.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{walker2026empowering,
  title = {{Empowering patients to choose and providers to improve. A focus group study on quality information needs in Switzerland's in- and outpatient somatic care}},
  author = {Carla Walker and Maxime Sapin and Sarah Mantwill and Justus Vogel and David Ehlig and Alexander Geissler},
  journal = {Health policy OPEN},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1016/j.hpopen.2026.100191},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13717042},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Empowering patients to choose and providers to improve. A focus group study on quality information needs in Switzerland's in- and outpatient somatic care
AU  - Carla Walker
AU  - Maxime Sapin
AU  - Sarah Mantwill
AU  - Justus Vogel
AU  - David Ehlig
AU  - Alexander Geissler
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/16
JO  - Health policy OPEN
DO  - 10.1016/j.hpopen.2026.100191
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13717042
AB  - Background  Quality monitoring ensures quality standards and improvement, while public reporting aims to inform patient choice. In Switzerland, quality monitoring and public reporting have fallen short of stakeholder expectations due to a misalignment with needs.Objectives  This study explores stakeholder needs in inpatient and outpatient care for public reporting and quality monitoring in Switzerland.Methods  In 2023, nine focus groups with 50 stakeholders from in- and outpatient somatic care were conducted. The data underwent qualitative content analysis to identify themes related to the purpose, challenges, and drivers of public reporting and quality monitoring, as well as indicator selection criteria.Results  Public participants emphasised accessible quality information to guide decisions, especially in chronic or serious illness. A major gap was a single point of contact for navigating care and shared decision-making. Public and expert views diverged on who should access and interpret quality data. Experts prioritised monitoring for internal improvement. Both groups cited administrative burden and system fragmentation as key barriers.Conclusion  While patients seek more involvement and access to data, expert reluctance to share quality information persists. Advancing public reporting requires recognising the public as a core audience and addressing data challenges through a national strategy.
SN  - 2590-2296
ER  -