PREDICTORS OF PATIENT-PERCEIVED QUALITY

Larrabee's model of quality proposes a relationship between quality an d value. This study tested the relationship by identifying predictors of patient-perceived quality for nursing care. Data were obtained from interviews and records of 199 adult patients. Candidate predictors of patient-perceived quality included patient goal achievement, nurse-pe rceived quality, and nurse goal achievement. Candidate predictors also included seven demographic, seven financial, six illness, and six hos pital variables. Predictors of both patient-perceived quality global a nd patient-perceived quality total were pain severity on exit intervie w, clinic referral, unit, and patient goal achievement. Medicare nonre cipient was a predictor of patient-perceived quality global. Worry sco re on admission was a predictor of patient-perceived quality total. Th e results support the relationship between quality and value and betwe en quality and beneficence postulated by Larrabee's model of quality. Additional investigation of these relationships in other populations a nd using other operationalizations of the model concepts is needed to provide further support for the model. This model is potentially usefu l for investigating quality in diverse cultures because the operationa lization of the model concepts can be designed to reflect local, regio nal, or national values.