Development and Validation of the One-Factor Questionnaire “Patient Satisfaction with Medical Care”

Background. One of the most viral principles in the development of modern healthcare is patient-oriented approach — providing a medical care considering citizens’ expectations; ensuring individual approach in solving their personal problems. One of the most important markers for assessing patient-oriented health care provision is patient satisfaction with medical care. Aims — the aim of our study was to develop and validate a tool to assess this indicator in the Russian Federation. Methods. A total of 3012 people between the ages of 18 and 83 took part in the study. The ratio of males to females in the sample was approximately 1:1 (1501 females to 1511 males). Quantitative methods were used to conduct the analysis. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA, respectively) with appropriate assessment of goodness-of-fit. Reliability and internal consistency of the instrument measuring patient satisfaction with medical care was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Results. The study involved 3012 people aged 18 to 83 years. The ratio of men to women in the sample was approximately 1:1 (1501 women and 1511 men). The proportion of urban residents who took part in the study was 67.2%, rural — 32.8%. Less than a month ago, 22.0% of respondents received medical care for the last time; from one to three months — 22.7%; four to six — 29.1%; from seven to twelve — 16.7%; more than a year ago — 9.5%. The services of private medical organizations were used by 12.3% of the study participants, state — 87.7%. The use of confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated the acceptability of a one-factor solution and confirmed the structural validity of the developed tool. The reliability and internal consistency of the patient satisfaction measurement tool was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Cronbach’s alpha showed “excellent” internal domain consistency (> 0.9). Bartlett’s sphericity criterion was met (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion. The conducted statistical analysis allows us to assert the acceptability of the one-factor model and the construct validity of the proposed tool.