Partners in Care: Consumer Experiences With Professional Services

Consumer experience is a key driver of successful health and education outcomes. Yet, the key factors influencing consumer experiences with care are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to understand, from the perspective of people receiving health care or education services, factors that determine positive and negative experiences with care. We interviewed people who received services, including occupational therapists, and analyzed recordings of the interviews using content analysis. Themes emerged from positive experiences with care on a continuum from “Acknowledges Me” to “Shares Problem Solving.” Themes from negative experiences were also on a continuum from “Lacks Curiosity” to “Disregards.” A fifth theme emerged from occupational therapists, describing “transformational insights” regarding how their personal experiences receiving care affected their practice. The findings from this study align with core OT constructs and advances understanding of authentic partnerships with people receiving professional services.