Web-Based Public Reporting as a Decision-Making Tool for Consumers of Long-Term Care in the United States and the United Kingdom: Systematic Analysis of Report Cards
Kast K, Otten SM, Konopik J, Maier CB (2023)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2023
Journal
Book Volume: 7
Article Number: e44382
DOI: 10.2196/44382
Abstract
Background: Report cards can help consumers make an informed decision when searching for a long-term care facility.
Objective: This study aims to examine the current state of web-based public reporting on long-term care facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Methods: We conducted an internet search for report cards, which allowed for a nationwide search for long-term care facilities and provided freely accessible quality information. On the included report cards, we drew a sample of 1320 facility profiles by searching for long-term care facilities in 4 US and 2 UK cities. Based on those profiles, we analyzed the information provided by the included report cards descriptively.
Results: We found 40 report cards (26 in the United States and 14 in the United Kingdom). In total, 11 of them did not state the source of information. Additionally, 7 report cards had an advanced search field, 24 provided simplification tools, and only 3 had a comparison function. Structural quality information was always provided, followed by consumer feedback on 27 websites, process quality on 15 websites, prices on 12 websites, and outcome quality on 8 websites. Inspection results were always displayed as composite measures.
Conclusions: Apparently, the identified report cards have deficits. To make them more helpful for users and to bring public reporting a bit closer to its goal of improving the quality of health care services, both countries are advised to concentrate on optimizing the existing report cards. Those should become more transparent and improve the reporting of prices and consumer feedback. Advanced search, simplification tools, and comparison functions should be integrated more widely.
Authors with CRIS profile
Kristina Kast
Lehrstuhl für Betriebswirtschaftslehre, insbesondere Gesundheitsmanagement
Jens Konopik
Lehrstuhl für Betriebswirtschaftslehre, insbesondere Gesundheitsmanagement
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Kast, K., Otten, S.-M., Konopik, J., & Maier, C.B. (2023). Web-Based Public Reporting as a Decision-Making Tool for Consumers of Long-Term Care in the United States and the United Kingdom: Systematic Analysis of Report Cards. JMIR Formative Research, 7. https://dx.doi.org/10.2196/44382
MLA:
Kast, Kristina, et al. "Web-Based Public Reporting as a Decision-Making Tool for Consumers of Long-Term Care in the United States and the United Kingdom: Systematic Analysis of Report Cards." JMIR Formative Research 7 (2023).
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