The Concept of Patient Satisfaction in Adolescent Psychiatric Care: A Qualitative Study

PROBLEM: Few studies have asked how adolescents perceive the quality of psychiatric care. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore adolescents' perception of quality of care and of satisfying treatment outcomes. METHODS: Fourteen adolescents participated in this hermeneutic study. FINDINGS: Several concepts describing adolescents' perspective of quality of care were found: secure place, tough love, peer solidarity, self-expression, and person not patient. Concepts describing satisfying treatment outcomes fell into four categories: improved mental health, personal development, strengthening of the self, and improved family relations. CONCLUSIONS: By casting light on users' perspectives, the study offers guidance for improvement of quality of care and for the development of patient satisfaction instruments.