Survey Finds Americans Rate Kindness as Top Factor in Healthcare

Dignity Health, one of the five largest health systems in the U.S., has announced the findings of a nationwide survey on the power of human kindness in healthcare and the perception of kindness in our society.

According to the survey by Wakefield Research for Dignity Health, 8 7 p ercent o f A mericans f eel k ind t reatment b y a physician is more important than other key considerations in choosing a healthcare provider, including average wait time before appointments, distance from home, and the cost of care. Yet, 64 percent have experienced unkind behaviour in a healthcare setting, including the failure of a caregiver to connect on a personal level (38 percent), staff rudeness (36 percent), and poor listening skills (35 percent).

“At Dignity Health, we have long believed that human kindness has the potential to heal and this survey confirms that the vast majority of patients feel the same way,” said Lloyd H. Dean, president and CEO of Dignity Health. “We are committed to providing our patients with experiences where they feel welcomed, respected, and cared for by fostering stronger connections with our doctors, nurses, and caregivers.”

While 95 percent of Americans feel that they themselves are kind, the survey also found that nearly half (48 percent) of Americans feel society is unkind and that a majority of Americans (58 percent) feel that U.S. culture, including media, public figures and their community, does not place a high value on kindness.

“In the midst of a divisive debate on the future of healthcare, we as an industry have a unique opportunity to focus on the issues that matter to our patients most - listening, healing, and reinforcing the importance of human connection,” continued Dean.

The survey found that when people experience unkindness in a healthcare setting, a majority feel that their quality of care is negatively affected (93 percent) and withhold information from their physician (54 percent) when speaking with health care professionals. Other key findings include:

• 90 percent of Americans would feel like switching healthcare providers or physicians after receiving unkind treatment.

• 72 percent of Americans would be willing to pay more for a physician who emphasised kindness when treating patients.

• 88 percent would be willing to travel further to see a healthcare provider or physician who emphasised kindness when treating patients.