Women's Health Matters Network: Women's College Hospital (Toronto) patient survey (n=1,000)

 Some background:
The new facility will include the Women’s College Research Institute (WCRI), making women’s health research a key focus.

‘Our research institute is one of the few in the world – and the only one in Canada – devoted to women’s health and innovations in ambulatory care,’ said Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe, an endocrinologist at Women’s College Hospital and a scientist at the WCRI who spoke at the event.

‘Our scientists ask questions that are not only unique to women’s lives, but that are specific to distinct communities of women.’


Selected results:
"Some notable results:

* Only 30 per cent of respondents said they felt empowered when dealing with health-care providers. A great many women had less positive feelings: 45 per cent said they felt isolated when visiting a hospital, 57 per cent said they felt afraid, 63 per cent felt frustrated and 76 per cent felt anxious.

* Sixty-five per cent of women felt they were treated like a number rather than a person, and 70 per cent felt the focus was on rushing them through their appointments and treatments rather than discussing their needs and circumstances.

* The vast majority – 88 per cent of respondents – said it was essential to approach health care holistically, treating the whole person rather than isolated body parts. However, less than half that number (43 per cent) felt that hospitals and health-care facilities actually achieved this.

* Most women prefer to remain in the community – and in their lives – while their conditions are treated. Ambulatory care – or outpatient treatment, as opposed to being admitted to hospital – was the preference of 90 per cent of respondents.

* A health-care facility that is knowledgeable about, sensitive to, and actively addresses diverse cultures was important to 80 per cent of respondents.

* More than 85 per cent of women feel women’s health issues should be a research priority for a health-care institution. However, only 56 per cent think institutions successfully keep women’s health at the forefront of research programs."