Analysis of the factors influencing patients’ power distance ：a qualitative study

Background ：Patient participation in patient safety (PFPS) has proved to be an effective measure to ensure patient safety. However, patients are insufficiently willing to participate, and lack initiative and enthusiasm.Patient power distance can be one of the influential factors.Whereas, how patient power distance affects participation in safety activities and factors influencing patient power distance are rarely reported nationally and internationally. Objective： To explore and analyze the influencing factors of inpatients' power distance. Methods： This study used a qualitative method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 patients hospitalized in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology from Hospital A. Results： The factors influencing the patients’ power distance are：Patient factors (knowledge reserve, psychological stress, hospitalization experience); Medical factors (role cognition, professional qualification, communication skills); Environmental factors (clinical situation, social environment, cultural background). Conclusion： Medical staff should attach great importance to the power distance of patients, and enhance the capacity of humane care. According to the individual differences of patients, appropriate communication methods should be adopted to narrow the distance between medical staff and patients so as to improve the patients' willingness to participate in patient safety.