title: DOC questionnaire: measuring how GPs and medical specialists rate collaboration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to assess the validity of a questionnaire aimed at assessing how general practitioners (GPs) and specialists rate collaboration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary data were collected in The Netherlands during March to September 2006. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 259 GPs and 232 specialists. Participants were randomly selected from The Netherlands Medical Address Book. Specialists rarely contacting a GP were not invited to participate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the questionnaire, consisting of 20 items, measured five domains: organisation; communication; professional expertise; image; and knowing each other. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.64 to 0.83 indicating sufficient internal consistency. Correlation coefficients between domains were all < 0.4. All but "communication" clearly produced distinguishing scores for different respondent groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that the doctors' opinions on collaboration (DOC) questionnaire is valid and that it may have the potential to give feedback to both medical professionals and policy makers. Such feedback creates an opportunity to improve collaboration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DOC questionnaire is a useful instrument for assessing collaboration among GPs and specialists. It can provide feedback to both medical professionals and policy makers. Such feedback creates an opportunity to improve collaboration.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. a.j.berendsen@med.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Annette J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Berendsen
authors.forename: Wim H G M
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Benneker
authors.forename: Klaas H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Groenier
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schuling
authors.forename: Richard P T M
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Grol
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meyboom-de Jong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires