Drawing on the Swiss Database of Individual Patient Experiences (DIPEx), we set out best practice for collecting, analysing and using patients’ own accounts of illness and care. Done rigorously, these stories can improve clinical practice, support patients and carers, sharpen communication and help teach medicine, and they remain underused.
Abstract
In recent years, patient narratives have attracted increasing attention as a valuable source of insights into the subjective experience of healthcare. This paper outlines a best-practice approach to the collection, analysis, and use of patient narratives, based on current literature and on the experience of developing the Swiss Database of Individual Patient Experiences (DIPEx). The DIPEx project aims to provide a systematic and methodologically rigorous collection of patient narratives on various health situations and topics. This paper presents and details the DIPEx approach as a current standard in the field, offering a comprehensive overview and discussing the potential uses and benefits of patient narratives: improve healthcare practice, empower patients and caregivers, help structure better communication in healthcare, and contribute to medical teaching and learning.
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Spitale, G., Glässel, A., Tyebally-Fang, M., Mouton Dorey, C., & Biller-Andorno, N. (2023). Patient narratives – a still undervalued resource for healthcare improvement. Swiss Medical Weekly, 153(1), 40022. https://doi.org/10.57187/smw.2023.40022
@article{spitale2023patient,
author = {Spitale, G. and Glässel, A. and Tyebally-Fang, M. and Mouton Dorey, C. and Biller-Andorno, N.},
title = {{Patient narratives – a still undervalued resource for healthcare improvement}},
journal = {Swiss Medical Weekly},
year = {2023},
volume = {153},
number = {1},
pages = {40022},
doi = {10.57187/smw.2023.40022}
}