A Qualitative Study on Concerns, Needs, and Expectations of Hospital Patients Related to Climate Change: Arguments for a Patient-Centered Adaptation

This study explores the concerns, needs, and expectations of inpatients with the goal to develop a patient-centered climate change adaptation agenda for hospitals. Statements of patients from geriatrics, internal medicine, psychiatry, and surgery (N = 25) of a German tertiary care hospital were anal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-06, Vol.18 (11), p.6105
Main Authors: Lenzer, Benedikt, Hoffmann, Christina, Hoffmann, Peter, Müller-Werdan, Ursula, Rupprecht, Manuel, Witt, Christian, Herzig, Cornelius, Liebers, Uta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Air conditioning
Climate change
Climate change adaptation
Climatic conditions
Geriatrics
Health care
Health problems
Health services
Hospitals
Internal medicine
Interviews
Mortality
Patient satisfaction
Patient-centered care
Patients
Psychiatry
Qualitative research
Storm damage
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Summary:This study explores the concerns, needs, and expectations of inpatients with the goal to develop a patient-centered climate change adaptation agenda for hospitals. Statements of patients from geriatrics, internal medicine, psychiatry, and surgery (N = 25) of a German tertiary care hospital were analyzed using semi-structured interviews and the framework method. Areas of future adaptation were elaborated in joint discussions with transdisciplinary experts. Concerns included the foresight of severe health problems. The requested adaptations comprised the change to a patient-centered care, infrastructural improvements including air conditioning, and adjustments of the workflows. Guidelines for the behavior of patients and medical services appropriate for the climatic conditions were demanded. The patient-centered agenda for adaptation includes the steps of partnering with patients, reinforcing heat mitigation, better education for patients and medical staff, and adjusting work processes. This is the first study demonstrating that hospital patients are gravely concerned and expect adjustments according to climate change. Since heat is seen as a major risk by interviewees, the fast implementation of published recommendations is crucial. By synthesizing inpatients’ expectations with scientific recommendations, we encourage patient-centered climate change adaptation. This can be the start for further collaboration with patients to create climate change resilient hospitals.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph18116105