Cleanliness and Staff Attitudes Crucial for Patient Privacy and Dignity

A recent Ipsos survey conducted on behalf of the Department of Health (DH) shows that cleanliness and staff attitudes are the most important factors for patients to feel they are treated with dignity and respect in hospitals.

The research conducted involved approximately 2,000 face-to-face interviews with adults (aged 15+) across the country. This research was designed to explore public perceptions towards privacy and dignity in hospital, with emphasis on the importance of single-sex wards.

When asked what was most important for patients to feel they were treated with privacy and dignity in hospitals, one in six (17%) mentioned being in a single sex ward or bay. The importance of having single sex wards or bays ranks in 7th place, behind making sure the hospital is clean (57%), being kept informed about what is going on (44%), being able to discuss personal details without other patients hearing (34%), and thoughtful or courteous staff (22%) and decent food (17%).

• Public Perceptions of Privacy and Dignity in Hospitals pdf, 2.2MB

Topline Results

• Interviews were conducted by the Ipsos Social Research Institute.
• A representative quota sample of 2000 adults aged 15+ in England was interviewed face-to-face in their homes.
• The main stage of the fieldwork took place between the 9th and 15th of March 2007.
• A 'booster' sample of people aged 65 and over, was interviewed from 23rd March to 2nd April 2007.
• Data have been weighted to the known profile of the population of England.

Q I'd now like you to think about staying in hospital. Which three, if any, of the following would be most important for you, for you to feel you were being treated with privacy and dignity?