THE USE OF QUALITATIVE METHODS IN THE STUDY OF PARENTS EXPERIENCES OFCARE ON A CHILDRENS SURGICAL WARD

User satisfaction with the care of hospitalized children is examined i n this paper. It is argued that parents are proxy consumers but that t heir status is conditional on the way in which they exercize choices. Parents' involvement in the care of their children means that the term 'user' is more appropriate than 'consumer'. Methodological problems i n the assessment of user satisfaction are discussed. A study of the ex periences of parents of 24 children discharged from a surgical ward of a children's hospital is described and the implications for the asses sment of user satisfaction reviewed, The study demonstrates that quali tative methods have value in the assessment of user satisfaction with care, A particular strength of qualitative methods of inquiry is that limitations of users' choice in care can be assessed.