No One-Size-Fits-All: Patient Perspectives of Key Factors Influencing Their Inpatient Rehabilitation Experience

Abstract

Although patient experience in healthcare settings has been a historically ambiguous concept, it is receiving increasing recognition as a measure of healthcare quality. Despite this growing recognition and efforts to define patient experience, few studies have explored patient perspectives on key factors driving this quality indicator. This research was conducted to explore and better understand the core elements patients view as impactful to their experiences in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. This was a single-visit cross-sectional qualitative interview study. Thirteen patients with various diagnoses who received at least one week of rehabilitation services were recruited from a single inpatient rehabilitation facility. This study employed a qualitative approach, including purposive sampling to identify information-rich participants, and semi-structured individual interviews to allow patients to share their full experiences. Constant comparative analysis was used to identify themes characterizing patients' perceptions. To establish credibility and trustworthiness, the following were implemented: peer debriefing, two independent coders, and repeated review of the data. The themes that were identified from the qualitative interviews highlighted that the patient experience of inpatient rehabilitation is multifaceted and while there are core commonalities, each patient's rehabilitation journey is unique. A better understanding of the aspects that patients consider most meaningful to their experiences can help guide quality improvement efforts.

Recommended Citation

Milien M, Bewernitz M, Stallings K, Young M. No One-Size-Fits-All: Patient Perspectives of Key Factors Influencing Their Inpatient Rehabilitation Experience. Patient Experience Journal. 2026; 13(1):96-106. doi: 10.35680/2372-0247.2105.