title: Development and testing of a scale measuring parent satisfaction with staff interactions.
abstract: This study tested the psychometric properties of the Parent Satisfaction Scale (PSS), a new scale measuring parents' satisfaction with their child's mental health services, primarily focusing on staff's interpersonal interactions. Data were collected by postal surveys 5 to 10 months after a child's admission to 1 of 5 mental health treatment programs. Completed surveys were received from parents of 120 of a potential 232 children (52% response rate). Internal consistency reliability of the PSS was strong (alpha = .96). Construct validity was supported by significant relationships between the PSS and constructs considered to be antecedent variables influencing parent satisfaction, including met expectations (r = 0.62, P < .001), met desires (r = 0.32, P < .001), and met needs (r = 0.55, P < .001). Convergent validity was supported, with the PSS having Pearson correlations of .86 (P < .001) with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 and .76 (P < .001) with parents' ratings of satisfaction with specific services received.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Nursing, 1111 Middle Dr, Room 403-G, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. jgerkens@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Janis E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gerkensmeyer
authors.forename: Joan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires