Indicators of quality of care in clinics: patients' perspectives.

Despite extensive research on defining and measuring quality of care, less attention has been given to consumers' views. The purpose of the study reported here was to identify indicators of quality of healthcare and nursing care important to clinic patients. The most important indicators of healthcare quality were getting better, getting care and services when needed, and having diagnoses and treatment options explained. The most important indicators of nursing care quality were communicating with the nurse, being treated with respect, being cared for by nurses who were up-to-date, teaching by the nurse, and not being rushed through the visit.