title: A brief questionnaire for assessing patient healthcare experiences in low-income settings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to develop and to assess the validity and reliability of two brief questionnaires for assessing patient experiences with hospital and outpatient care in a low-income setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using literature review and data from focus groups (n = 14), we developed questionnaires to assess patient experiences with inpatient (I-PAHC) and with outpatient (O-PAHC) care in a low-income setting. Questionnaires were administered in person by trained interviewers. Construct validity was assessed with factor analysis; convergent validity was assessed by correlating summary scores for each scale with overall patient evaluations, and reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha coefficients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight health facilities in Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients >18 years old who had a hospital stay >1 day (n = 230), and patients who received outpatient care (n = 486).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient evaluations of health care experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The factor analysis revealed 12 items that loaded on five factors for the I-PAHC questionnaire. The O-PAHC showed similar results with 13 items that loaded on four factors. Summary scores for nearly all factors were significantly associated (P-value < 0.05) with the patient's overall evaluation score. The measure of reliability, Cronbach's alpha coefficients, showed good to excellent internal consistency for all scales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The I-PAHC on O-PAHC questionnaires can be useful in assessing patients' evaluations of care delivery in low-income settings. The questionnaires are brief and can be integrated into health systems strengthening efforts with the support of leadership at the health facility and the country levels.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520-8034, USA.
authors.forename: Tashonna R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Jeannie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mantopoulos
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cole-Lewis
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kidane
authors.forename: Sosena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kebede
authors.forename: Yigeremu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abebe
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000592:standards; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult