Patient-centred care for urinary stone disease: a qualitative study

Patients with urinary stone disease often experience a variety of problems relating to quality of life, and require complex, multi-staged treatment. This means that holistic, patient-centred care is particularly important for this patient group. This study explored the experiences of patients who had undergone treatment for urinary stone disease, looking at the dimensions of patient-centred care. Purposeful sampling was used to select 30 participants from five private clinics in Jordan. Semi-structured open-ended interviews, lasting an average of 15 minutes, were conducted to gather data. The audio recording were transcribed and translated into English, then content analysis was performed to identify themes relating to the dimensions of patient-centred care. Participants valued all aspects of patient-centred care except the involvement of friends and family, which many did not think was important. Overall, most patients had experienced patient-centred care during their treatment, although some reported problems with certain areas, such as communication, care coordination and the provision of emotional support. The provision of patient-centred care is important for patients with urinary stone disease, although their specific needs should be considered in relation to the personality and circumstances of the individual. Further research is needed on how patient-centred care can be embedded into the entire patient journey, looking particularly at care coordination and communication.