Staff views and behaviour regarding patient involvement in myocardial infarction care: development and evaluation of a questionnaire.
BACKGROUND
Healthcare legislation in several nations now dictates the responsibility of health care professionals to involve patients in decisions concerning care and treatment. However, few studies have examined the impact of patient involvement on the work of health care professionals. A better understanding of staff views and behaviour might enhance patient involvement.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire for measuring views and behaviour regarding patient involvement among physicians and nursing staff caring for patients with myocardial infarction.


METHODS
Focus groups among cardiology staff provided the basis for the construction of the questionnaire. Questionnaire validity and reliability were evaluated in a small pilot study and a larger cross-sectional study among cardiology staff at twelve Swedish hospitals.


RESULTS
The questionnaire demonstrated good validity and reliability, with two factors measuring staff views and four measuring behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
The questionnaire appears to be a useful tool for evaluating the perceptions and behaviour of physicians and nursing staff regarding patient involvement in myocardial infarction care. Use of this questionnaire may provide insight regarding areas of staff-patient interaction that need improvement, as well as implications of patient involvement for the work of each professional group on cardiology wards.
Arnetz
Judith E
JE
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. jarnetz@med.wayne.edu
Höglund
Anna T
AT
Arnetz
Bengt B
BB
Winblad
Ulrika
U
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013548:Sweden