Association Between Loneliness and Patient Experience in a Primary Health Care Setting.

Abstract

Loneliness is increasingly recognized as a public health concern with implications for health care experiences. This cross-sectional study surveyed 2,673 adult patients from a primary care practice in Ontario, Canada. Using the University of California-Los Angeles 3-item Loneliness Scale and 6 patient experience indicators, we examined associations between loneliness and patient experience via a Bayesian multivariate cumulative logit model. Lonely patients had significantly lower odds of reporting positive experiences across multiple domains. Findings suggest that loneliness may negatively influence how patients perceive care. Primary care clinicians are well positioned to identify loneliness and implement interventions that promote connection and improve patient experience.