Regulators play a crucial role in protecting the public, but how much does the public actually know about regulators’ work? This article is based on a presentation at the 2024 Annual Education Meeting by Chris Grecco and Mandy Hall.
The Healthcare Regulatory Research Institute (HRRI) connected with Element Market Research, Inc. to run public opinion studies in 2023 and 2024. Element, founded in 2008 and based in Lexington, Kentucky, is a full-service market research consultancy. The firm specializes in qualitative and quantitative primary research and serves clients in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, television and entertainment, and lodging.
HRRI worked with them on three significant studies:
These studies aimed to understand the level of public awareness regarding state regulatory boards, public perceptions of their responsibility to report substandard care, and opinions on the value of licensure renewal and recertification for practitioners.
The studies revealed that a majority of the public is not familiar with the roles of healthcare-affiliated state licensing boards. In the "Public Perception of Regulation" study, 60% of respondents indicated they were not familiar with these roles, while the "Public Responsibility to Report" study showed a slightly higher figure at 70%. When asked to describe what state licensing boards do, 47% of respondents either did not know or did not provide an answer.
Despite the lack of familiarity, the public strongly believes in their responsibility to report substandard care and practitioner misconduct. In the "Public Responsibility to Report" study, 87% of respondents agreed that the public should be responsible for reporting such issues, with 48% strongly agreeing. However, only 44% felt they would know how and where to report these issues.
After being provided with a description of state licensing boards and their functions, nearly all respondents believed these boards are valuable. In the "Public Perception of Regulation" study, 92% of respondents found state licensing boards valuable, and 80% believed they contribute positively to the healthcare landscape. Additionally, 84% agreed that the general public should report issues to state licensing boards.
Among those who experienced issues such as bias, discrimination, or substandard care, 96% took at least one action. However, that could include simply talking to friends and family members about it. Only 55% reported the issue to an organization they thought could address it. Additionally, only 10-15% of all those who had an issue contacted the state licensing board. The main reasons for not contacting the board included a belief that reporting would not make an impact (62%) and a lack of awareness that contacting the board was an option (55%).
For those who did contact the state licensing board, 63% found the process easy, and 54% were satisfied with the action taken. Additionally, 75% felt confident that the provider would be contacted, and that change would occur. However, satisfaction with the provider’s organization or place of employment lagged behind state licensing boards and patient advocacy groups.
The "Public Perception of the Value of License Renewal/Recertification” study revealed that 75% of respondents were aware that healthcare practitioners need to renew their licenses periodically, but only 32% were familiar with the process. Despite this, large majorities agreed that licensure renewal and recertification are important. For instance, 84% wanted healthcare practitioners to be as up to date as possible with medical innovations and practices.
The findings from these studies underscore the need for increased public awareness and education about the roles and functions of state licensing boards. While the public believes in the importance of reporting substandard care and values licensure renewal and recertification, there is a significant gap in familiarity and knowledge. Based on the findings, state boards should consider the following recommendations to improve outreach efforts to the public.
FSBPT has already created a few resources to help boards educate the public on important issues related to their care, including new short videos:
While the public strongly believes in the importance of reporting substandard care and values licensure renewal and recertification, there remains a significant gap in familiarity and knowledge. By addressing these areas, state regulatory bodies can improve their effectiveness in protecting public health and safety and enhance public trust and engagement.
Chris Grecco
Co-Owner, Element Market Research, Inc.
In addition to co-founding Element and helping to manage day-to-day and strategic operations, Chris Grecco plays a lead role in conducting qualitative and quantitative research studies for clients. His research interests center on health-related businesses, new media, and lodging/hospitality. Over the course of his thirty year career, he has worked on both the supplier and client sides. Chris holds bachelor's degrees in both sociology and broadcasting and a master's degree in sociology, with an emphasis on research methods and statistics. With varied skills, he can conduct everything from focus groups with oncologists to large-scale customer segmentation and discrete choice studies among patients and caregivers.
Mandy Hall
Research Director, Element Market Research, Inc.
Mandy has spent nearly twenty-five years with a career in the market research industry and has been with Element Market Research since its inception fifteen years ago. She serves clients across a wide array of research areas, focusing primarily on health-related businesses. She designs and manages studies in brand awareness, satisfaction research, message tracking, product and service optimization, logo testing, and segmentation.