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Online patient feedback: where's the evidence?

Question from Care Opinion

Posted by on

About: Care Opinion

picture of James Munro

People are used to the idea of evidence-based healthcare. But how often do you hear about evidence-based patient feedback? (Don't mention the "friends and family test".)

At Care Opinion we are very keen on seeing independent, rigorous and peer-reviewed evidence about patient feedback, especially our kind - online, narrative, public. We've supported the work of many academic teams over the past 20 years, and there are now around 50 published research papers, four completed PhDs, and two more PhDs in progress.

Independent research helps us think about what works, what doesn't, and why. It tells us whether we are on the right track, identifies key challenges and highlights new opportunities for creating value and impact in health care.

You probably haven't got time to read 50 papers and critically appraise the evidence relating to Care Opinion. Luckily, I've read them so you don't have to, and I've summarised many of the key findings in a few pages of hopefully readable text.

I hope you find it useful!

Care Opinion summary of the research - August 2025.docx



Response from Κασάνδρα on

I wonder whether there is any evidence that relatives are less willing to provide negative feedback about an institution that has a high overall satisfaction rating, because their identity could easily be inferred even when reviews are anonymised. At the same time, there may be people who would not mind being identifiable—for example, when the care of their own relative has ended but others remain at risk—yet who are discouraged from submitting feedback precisely because the review site can publish only comments that do not risk revealing who wrote them. Is there any evidence showing whether anonymised feedback, as a pre-requisite, is sufficiently inclusive of the range of information that stakeholders might wish to provide?

Response from Devastated and despondent on

I agree with this comment. My husband died in hospital after a catalogue of poor care, neglect, negligence and system failures. When I posted my story Care Opinion contacted the Trust which was able to identify my husband’s case and the Trust then persuaded Card Opinion not to publish my story, citing fictitious ongoing investigations. This was after a SAIR had identified 7 failings, all of which were accepted by the Trust. I would advise relatives like me to forget about Care Opinion as the so called moderation process permits the Trusts to “circle the wagons”. If you want similar instances of poor care and avoidable death to be prevented the only effective channels are an inquest and civil litigation. 

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