title: Patients' perspectives on information received in outpatient psychiatry.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to develop a scale in order to determine the informational needs deemed most important by psychiatric outpatients, and to determine their level of satisfaction with information received. The 'Patients' Perspective on Information Questionnaire' (PPIQ) scale was created and given to a volunteer sample of 86 psychiatric outpatients. The Client satisfaction questionnaire (CSQ-8), assessing global satisfaction, was also completed to assess the convergent validity of the PPIQ-Satisfaction subscale. Internal consistency for the two PPIQ subscales (Information and Satisfaction) is excellent (alpha = 0.90 and 0.91). Convergent validity between the Satisfaction subscale and the CSQ is adequate (r = 0.5). The PPIQ reveals high importance ratings given to items such as 'side effects of medication' and 'confidentiality and access to chart'. Elevated satisfaction ratings are given to items from the conceptual category 'treatment information'. Dissatisfaction on the PPIQ is highest for components of 'information on service modality and organization'. The PPIQ appears to distinguish between information that is important to clients and their level of satisfaction with that information. Satisfaction on multiple components of information, such as treatment, service modality and organization, and clinical difficulties should be assessed to generate feedback to improve services.
authors.affiliation: Douglas Hospital and Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. permic@douglas.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perreault
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Katerelos
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tardif
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pawliuk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000592:standards*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000592:standards; D011594:Psychometrics; D011792:Quebec; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*