The use of qualitative methods in the study of parents' experiences of care on a children's surgical ward

User satisfaction with the care of hospitalized children is examined in this paper. It is argued that parents are proxy consumers but that their status is conditional on the way in which they exercize choices. Parents' involvement in the care of their children means that the term 'user' is more appropriate than 'consumer'. Methodological problems in the assessment of user satisfaction are discussed. A study of the experiences of parents of 24 children discharged from a surgical ward of a children's hospital is described and the implications for the assessment of user satisfaction reviewed, The study demonstrates that qualitative methods have value in the assessment of user satisfaction with care, A particular strength of qualitative methods of inquiry is that limitations of users' choice in care can be assessed.