Evidence on the links between patient experience and safety: a systematic review

Summary

Patient experience and safety are central to healthcare quality, yet their relationship remains underexplored. While earlier evidence suggests a positive association, policy and practice are continually developing around the world. This review examined evidence from 30 studies published between 2000 and 2023 to better understand the relationship between patient experience and patient safety.

Content

The authors of this review note that:

• They found mixed evidence on the relationship between patient experience and safety, and causality remains unknown.
• While some research identified clear associations, others showed considerable variation, often influenced by the specific measures used.
• Studies focused on secondary care, leaving gaps in primary and mental health settings.
• No research examined links between safety and the Picker Principles of ‘fast access to healthcare advice’ or ‘family and carer involvement’—domains considered vital to safety.

The authors of the review suggests that future research should explore domain-specific links and include experimental designs to strengthen causal understanding of the granular elements of safety and experience. Further investigation across care settings and population subgroups would help to fully understand how patient experience influences safety and vice versa.

Overall, they state that this review provides evidence that patient experience and safety are related but distinct concepts that should be addressed together in quality improvement efforts.