Conor Foley

Background A comprehensive examination of whether and how health inequalities are measured in patient experience surveys has yet to be completed. The various ways in which these surveys conceptualise health inequalities may have important implications for how information about inequalities in patient experience is reported and used to plan quality improvement in health services. This review aimed to map measured and overlooked health inequalities in patient experience surveys in acute care and to explore the potential consequences of different conceptualisations of these health inequalities.Methods Papers that contain materials relating to patient experience measurement in any acute care context were included. A search strategy was developed using the Population, Concept and Context (PCC) tool in collaboration with an information specialist. Grey literature searches were completed in collaboration with relevant experts. Two independent reviewers completed title and abstract, and full-text screening. The extracted data will be analysed using Critical Discourse Analysis, a qualitative method used to examine how power, dominance and inequality are enacted in text.Results 141 studies were included for data extraction. To-date, data from 91 studies have been extracted. Notable findings include, 66% of studies were conducted in the USA, in 90–97% of studies, measurement of disability status, social capital, socioeconomic status, or occupation in patient groups was not reported, with measurement of sexual identity not reported in patient groups in any studies. A critical discourse analysis of included studies is underway.Conclusion While there is recognition of the impact of health inequalities on various aspects of health, including their effects on patient experience, there is fragmented evidence on how health inequalities are considered when designing patient experience surveys. This review will provide stakeholders involved in designing, implementing and responding to patient experience surveys with further insights into how health inequalities may be currently overlooked in these surveys.