Exploring how health inequalities are conceptualised and measured in patient experience surveys in acute care: a protocol for a scoping review.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to map measured and overlooked health inequalities in patient experience surveys in acute care and to explore the potential consequences of different conceptualisations of these health inequalities.

Introduction: Measuring patient experience has become standard practice in many countries. However, despite the widespread awareness of the impact of health inequalities on various aspects of health, including patient experience, a comprehensive examination of whether and how health inequalities are measured in patient experience surveys has yet to be completed. The various ways in which these surveys conceptualise health inequalities may have important implications for how information about inequalities in patient experience is reported and used to allocate resources and plan quality improvement in health services. We will analyse the papers included in this scoping review to identify ways in which health inequalities have been conceptualised and measured in patient experience surveys in acute care and the potential consequences of framing health inequalities in different ways.

Inclusion criteria: Papers that contain materials relating to patient experience measurement in any acute care context will be included. No limits will be placed on patient characteristics.

Methods: A search strategy was developed with an information specialist. The database search will be limited to after September 2021. No limit will be placed on data sources. Grey literature searches will be completed and relevant experts will also be contacted to identify any patient experience surveys not captured through database or grey literature searches. Non-English papers will be included only if resources allow. Two independent reviewers will complete title and abstract, and full-text screening. Additional reviewers will resolve any conflicts. A data extraction form was developed. The extracted data will be analysed using Critical Discourse Analysis, a qualitative method used to examine how power, dominance and inequality are enacted in text.