Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Councils: A Quantitative Study on How Councils are Used and Predictors of Effective Councils

Patient and family advisory councils (PFACs) are a key strategy in advancing patient-centeredness, heralded by the Institute of Medicine as a goal to improve healthcare quality. Although PFACs have been around since the 1980s, they exist in only 54% of US hospitals, according to the American Hospital Association's annual survey of 6100 hospitals. This research aimed to identify key predictors of PFAC effectiveness, since previous studies had lacked descriptions of these factors. Using the C-OAR-SE theory, this quantitative, validated survey of 60 questions was answered by 203 respondents who worked or had worked with PFACs in US hospitals. The results revealed that leadership support was significantly associated with increased meeting content, stronger measurement practices, and more frequent decision-making and involvement with policies and procedures. PFACs, focused on conditions or patient types rather than general PFACs, scored higher on multiple factors, including meeting content, measurement practices, level of engagement, and coaching and training members. This study highlights the key drivers of effective operations and reinforces the value of patient-centeredness in integrating the patient and family voice into hospital initiatives through PFACs.