One way to determine a patient’s needs and to extrapolate or infer those needs to other patients is through questionnaires. However, how do you complete a patient-specific questionnaire while protecting the identity of the patient?

One way to determine a patient’s needs and to extrapolate or infer those needs to other patients is through questionnaires. However, how do you complete a patient-specific questionnaire while protecting the identity of the patient? For example, if a patient responds that nurse X was rude and states the date and time of the occurrence, how is the patient’s anonymity protected?