ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PATIENT EXPERIENCE AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE USERS IN HONG KONG
Author(s)
Cindy Yue Tian, PhD1, Annie Wai-ling Cheung, MPhil1, Jonathan Chun-hei Ma, MPH1, Eliza LY Wong, PhD2.
1JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 2JC School of Public Health and Primary Care of, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
1JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 2JC School of Public Health and Primary Care of, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
OBJECTIVES: Patient-centred care is increasingly recognised as an important component of mental health services. The relationships between patient experience and health-related quality of life (QoL) among community mental health service users remain underexplored. This study examined the association between patient experience and QoL among community mental health service users in Hong Kong.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among community mental health service users in 2024. QoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L. Patient experience was measured using two domains derived from exploratory factor analysis: patient-provider communication quality (6 items; α=0.88) and patient involvement in decision-making (3 items; α=0.70). Tobit regression was used for EQ-5D utility scores, and multivariable linear regression for EQ-VAS scores. Models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, mental health burden, government assistance receipt, living and employment status, and disability count.
RESULTS: Of 360 participants, 320 who had attended a psychiatric specialist outpatient clinic were included. Participants were predominantly female (80.6%), and 48.1% were aged ≥60 years. The mean EQ-5D utility score was 0.77 (SD=0.22). In adjusted analyses, better patient-provider communication quality was associated with higher utility scores (β=0.051, p=0.011), whereas patient involvement in decision-making was not (β=0.017, p=0.212). Similar findings were observed for EQ-VAS, with patient-provider communication quality positively associated with VAS scores (β=5.41, p=0.003), while patient involvement in decision-making remained non-significant (β=2.02, p=0.115).
CONCLUSIONS: Patient-provider communication quality appeared to be an important determinant of QoL among community mental health service users. Although patient involvement was not associated with QoL after adjustment, it remains a key component of patient-centred care and may influence recovery-related outcomes beyond those captured by health utility measures. Interventions that strengthen patient-provider communication through adequate consultation time, attentive listening, and trust-building may help improve QoL in community mental health settings.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among community mental health service users in 2024. QoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L. Patient experience was measured using two domains derived from exploratory factor analysis: patient-provider communication quality (6 items; α=0.88) and patient involvement in decision-making (3 items; α=0.70). Tobit regression was used for EQ-5D utility scores, and multivariable linear regression for EQ-VAS scores. Models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, mental health burden, government assistance receipt, living and employment status, and disability count.
RESULTS: Of 360 participants, 320 who had attended a psychiatric specialist outpatient clinic were included. Participants were predominantly female (80.6%), and 48.1% were aged ≥60 years. The mean EQ-5D utility score was 0.77 (SD=0.22). In adjusted analyses, better patient-provider communication quality was associated with higher utility scores (β=0.051, p=0.011), whereas patient involvement in decision-making was not (β=0.017, p=0.212). Similar findings were observed for EQ-VAS, with patient-provider communication quality positively associated with VAS scores (β=5.41, p=0.003), while patient involvement in decision-making remained non-significant (β=2.02, p=0.115).
CONCLUSIONS: Patient-provider communication quality appeared to be an important determinant of QoL among community mental health service users. Although patient involvement was not associated with QoL after adjustment, it remains a key component of patient-centred care and may influence recovery-related outcomes beyond those captured by health utility measures. Interventions that strengthen patient-provider communication through adequate consultation time, attentive listening, and trust-building may help improve QoL in community mental health settings.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
HSD58
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care, Patient-Centered Research
Disease
Mental Health (including addiction)