title: A new measure of patient satisfaction with mammography. Validation by factor analytic technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The success of national breast screening programmes hinges on women's adherence. By monitoring patients' perceptions, potential barriers to attendance may be detected, measured and possibly alleviated. Consequently a new questionnaire MGQ, measuring patients' experience of and satisfaction with mammography, has been developed. As discomfort is a predictor of non-attendance, a dimension measuring physical and psychological discomfort was included.
  
  
  METHODS
  The internal structure of observed variables was tested using factor analysis as part of the validation process. The study was conducted in six radiological departments in Norway including 550 patients presenting for mammography. The analysis suggested eight factors explaining 56.7% of the variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Construct validity was supported since the factor scales covered all hypothesized dimensions and all but one subdimension. The factors were internally consistent and externally independent, indicating that distinct aspects of patients' experience with mammography may be assessed and thus possibly improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A relationship between pain and re-attendance was suggested as pain and worries about the next mammography belonged to the same factor. This underlines the importance of including a discomfort dimension when monitoring patient satisfaction with mammography.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Loeken
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steine
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sandvik
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laerum
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finset
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires