Adapting CAHPS for an American Indian population.
OBJECTIVE
Develop a culturally appropriate, reliable, and valid survey that can be used by the Choctaw Nation Health Services (CNHS) to compare patients' health care experiences across CNHS clinics, and to support quality improvement efforts.


METHODS
We worked with CNHS staff to adapt the CAHPS Clinician and Group Survey for this purpose. We conducted cognitive interviews and a field-test to evaluate the survey.


RESULTS
Cognitive testing yielded a survey that covered issues relevant to CNHS patients. Field testing yielded 696 surveys, (58% response rate). Analyses provided support for internal consistency of multi-item scales. Correlations among scales indicate the scales were related to one another but not redundant.


CONCLUSIONS
The CAHPS American Indian Survey is useful for assessing perceptions of care at the clinic level and across different clinics. The close partnership with CNHS helped yield a survey that is scientifically sound, reflects how services are organized and delivered locally, and meets CNHS information needs.
Weidmer-Ocampo
Beverly
B
RAND Corporation, USA.
Johansson
Patrick
P
Dalpoas
Debbie
D
Wharton
David
D
Darby
Charles
C
Hays
Ron D
RD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003256:Community Participation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D009825:Oklahoma; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011177:Postal Service; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D016549:United States Indian Health Service; D055815:Young Adult