Quality of integrated chronic care measured by patient survey: identification, selection and application of most appropriate instruments.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the most appropriate generic instrument to measure experience and/or satisfaction of people receiving integrated chronic care.


BACKGROUND
Health care is becoming more user-centred and, as a result, the experience of users of care and evaluation of their experience and/or satisfaction is taken more seriously. It is unclear to what extent existing instruments are appropriate in measuring the experience and/or satisfaction of people using integrated chronic care.


METHODS
Instruments were identified by means of a systematic literature review. Appropriateness of instruments was analysed on seven criteria. The two most promising instruments were translated into Dutch, if necessary, and administered to a convenience sample of 109 people with a chronic illness. Data derived from respondents were analysed statistically. Focus-group interviews were conducted to assess the semantic and technical equivalence as well as opinions of people about the applicability and relevance of the translated instruments.


RESULTS
From 37 instruments identified, the Patients' Assessment of Care for chronIc Conditions (PACIC) and the short form of the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire III (PSQ-18) were selected as most promising instruments. Both instruments produced similar median scores across people with different chronic conditions. The overall PACIC and its subscales and the overall PSQ-18 were highly internally consistent, but not the PSQ-18 subscales. Overall, the PACIC demonstrated better psychometric characteristics. PACIC and PSQ-18 scores were found to be moderately correlated. Whereas more respondents preferred the PSQ-18, focus-group participants regarded the PACIC to be more applicable and relevant. The technical and semantic equivalence of both instruments were sufficient.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of its psychometric characteristics, perceived applicability and relevance, the PACIC is the most appropriate instrument to measure the experience of people receiving integrated chronic care.
Vrijhoef
Hubertus J M
HJ
University of Maastricht Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences Public Health and Primary Care Research School PO Box 616 6200 MD Maastricht The Netherlands. b.vrijhoef@zw.unimaas.nl
Berbee
Rieneke
R
Wagner
Edward H
EH
Steuten
Lotte M G
LM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care