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Patient-Centered Care for Enhancing Health-Related Quality of Life: Integrating Clinical,...
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Patient-Centered Care for Enhancing Health-Related Quality of Life: Integrating Clinical, Behavioral, and Social Determinants of Health

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2025 | Viewed by 1055

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Milica Zeković

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: clinical nutrition; public health nutrition; nutritional interventions; oncology; tumor biology; cancer survivorship; urology; urological disease management; health outcomes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is our pleasure to invite you to contribute to a Special Issue which aims to illuminate the intricate and dynamic interplay of diverse determinants shaping health-related quality of life (HRQoL) within the evolving paradigm of patient-centered care. As healthcare systems transition toward more integrative, holistic models, the convergence of clinical practice, lifestyle factors, and broader social environment provides a unique avenue to elevate patient well-being and optimize outcomes.

This Special Issue aims to showcase a broad spectrum of healthcare perspectives, aligning with the goals of Healthcare by spotlighting patient-centered approaches that transcend traditional boundaries of clinical care. We welcome innovative contributions that elucidate how multidimensional strategies—spanning clinical, behavioral, and social spheres—can enhance care delivery and foster equity, and enrich the patient experience across varied healthcare settings. By cultivating an interdisciplinary dialogue, this Special Issue aspires to promote the dissemination and critical appraisal of current knowledge, while unveiling emerging trends and navigating the complexities, challenges, and transformative shifts in the pursuit of enhanced HRQoL.

We encourage submissions of original research articles and comprehensive reviews that explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:

- Multidisciplinary approaches to patient-centered care for disease management;

- The influence of social determinants on HRQoL across diverse populations;

- The impact of integrated care models on HRQoL outcomes;

- Health equity and access in patient-centered care;

- Policy implications for integrating clinical, behavioral, and social determinants of health.

We eagerly anticipate your contributions, which will catalyze fresh perspectives, inspire progress, fuel innovation, and redefine the trajectory of advancements in healthcare delivery.

Dr. Milica Zeković
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • health-related quality of life
  • patient-centered care
  • social determinants of health
  • multidisciplinary care
  • healthcare innovation
  • health outcomes
  • personalized care

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 427 KiB  
Article
Factors Associated with Decisional Regret After Shared Decision Making for Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty
by Yu-Chieh Lo, Yu-Pin Chen, Hui En Lin, Wei-Chun Chang, Wei-Pin Ho, Jia-Pei Jang and Yi-Jie Kuo
Healthcare 2025, 13(13), 1597; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131597 - 3 Jul 2025
Viewed by 278
Abstract
Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a treatment for knee pain, but some patients are not satisfied with their outcomes. Utilizing shared decision making (SDM) can lead to better decisions, satisfaction, and fewer regrets. However, healthcare professionals have little knowledge of risk factors [...] Read more.
Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a treatment for knee pain, but some patients are not satisfied with their outcomes. Utilizing shared decision making (SDM) can lead to better decisions, satisfaction, and fewer regrets. However, healthcare professionals have little knowledge of risk factors for regret. The aim of this study is to evaluate decisional regret using the Decision Regret Scale (DRS) after primary TKA among patients who engaged in SDM. Method: A total of 118 patients who underwent TKA surgery between March 2020 and May 2022 participated in this study, and they were able to reflect on their outcomes. The primary outcome was decisional regret assessed using the DRS, and the secondary outcome was post-operative pain at a three-month follow-up, measured using the Lequesne Index. Result: The study found that 49% of the patients reported no regret, 25% reported mild regret, and 26% reported moderate-to-severe regret. There was a significant correlation between greater levels of decision regret and a higher three-month Lequesne Index. Post-operative pain and post-operative mobility status and the range of motion of the knee joint were also strongly correlated. Conclusion: The study found that more than half of the patients undergoing primary TKAs experienced regret even following SDM counseling. Regret levels were associated with higher post-operative pain and poorer mobility. This underscores the importance of informing patients about potential adverse effects of TKA to manage their expectations and reduce regret in future SDM interviews. Practice implications: This study incorporated patient perspectives through their direct engagement in the SDM process prior to surgery. Patients participated in the design of the SDM framework, which included educational pamphlets and structured interviews to assess their values and preferences. Their involvement ensured that the SDM procedure was tailored to patient-centered outcomes. Furthermore, the follow-up assessments were conducted with patients to evaluate decisional regret and post-operative outcomes, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of the SDM process. By actively participating in the research through decision making and outcome reflection, the patients contributed to the understanding of factors influencing decisional regret after undergoing TKA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Patient-Centered Care for Enhancing Health-Related Quality of Life: Integrating Clinical, Behavioral, and Social Determinants of Health)
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22 pages, 5529 KiB  
Article
From Perception to Action: Air Pollution Awareness and Behavioral Adjustments in Pregnant Women in Serbia
by Ana Susa, Milica Zekovic, Dragana Davidovic, Katarina Paunovic, Vera Kujundzic, Sladjana Mihajlovic and Ljiljana Bogdanovic
Healthcare 2025, 13(12), 1475; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121475 - 19 Jun 2025
Viewed by 416
Abstract
In regions with sustained air pollution, the adoption of protective health behaviors is critical, particularly among pregnant women—a population marked by physiological vulnerability and heightened receptivity to preventive guidance. Understanding and supporting patient-driven behavioral change requires attention to individual perception and awareness, which [...] Read more.
In regions with sustained air pollution, the adoption of protective health behaviors is critical, particularly among pregnant women—a population marked by physiological vulnerability and heightened receptivity to preventive guidance. Understanding and supporting patient-driven behavioral change requires attention to individual perception and awareness, which are shaped by socio-economic and spatial factors, as well as access to credible information. Objectives: This study investigates how pregnant women in Serbia perceive air quality, identifies determinants that influence these perceptions, and evaluates the extent and nature of behavioral adaptations undertaken to mitigate exposure-related risks. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 279 pregnant women using a structured, researcher-administered questionnaire. Collected data included demographic and psychosocial variables, air quality perceptions, self-reported health effects, and behavioral responses. Residential proximity to land-use attributes was assessed using GIS-based spatial analysis. Results: Most participants perceived air quality as poor (68.8%), primarily informed by unofficial sources such as mobile applications and social media. Living close to continuous urban fabric (OR = 0.180, 95% CI: 0.059–0.558, p = 0.003) and water (OR = 0.306, 95% CI: 0.127–0.738, p = 0.008) was associated with poorer perceptions, while proximity to forests (OR = 2.938, 95% CI: 1.323–6.525, p = 0.008) correlated with more favorable assessments. Despite prevalent concern, around half of respondents (50.2%) reported no behavioral modifications. Importantly, none had received guidance from healthcare professionals on the topic. Conclusions: These findings highlight critical gaps in environmental health literacy and provider engagement. Integrating tailored communication and behavioral support in existing prenatal counseling could advance health-related quality of life in this vulnerable population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Patient-Centered Care for Enhancing Health-Related Quality of Life: Integrating Clinical, Behavioral, and Social Determinants of Health)
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