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

Abstract

Although patient experience in healthcare settings has historically been an ambiguous concept, it has received 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 the key factors driving this quality indicator. This study aimed to explore the core elements patients view as influencing their experiences in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. This was a single-visit, cross-sectional qualitative interview study. Thirteen patients with diverse diagnoses who received at least one week of rehabilitation services were recruited from a single inpatient rehabilitation facility. Purposive sampling was employed to identify information-rich participants, and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted to elicit in-depth perspectives. Constant comparative analysis was used to identify themes characterizing patients' perceptions. To establish credibility and trustworthiness, peer debriefing, two independent coders, and repeated review of the data were implemented. The themes identified from the qualitative interviews suggest that the patient experience of inpatient rehabilitation is multifaceted; while there are core commonalities, each patient's rehabilitation journey is unique. A better understanding of the aspects patients consider most impactful 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.