title: Development and validation of a patient measure of doctor-patient caring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Conceptualising the doctor-patient relationship as a 'window mirror' exposes care delivery from doctor to self, doctor to patient, patient to self, and patient to doctor. These directions have not been measured concurrently. We aimed to develop and validate a patient questionnaire informed by this model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A modified-Delphi exercise was conducted to develop, and face and content validate, the questionnaire. Stage 2 surveyed 495 patients in general practice to assess the internal consistency and construct validity of the questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire is face and content valid. Its internal reliability and construct validity appear good. Patients who care more about their doctor also care more about themselves. A patient or doctor who cares about the other person is associated with increased self-care by that person.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further development and testing of the patient questionnaire is warranted to validate measurement of how patients perceive the caring they and their doctor give, and receive from, each other.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the patient perspective the questionnaire may increase awareness of the importance of family doctors and patients caring about each other and themselves. It may inform and evaluate medical students, educational programmes and caring in doctor-patient relationships.
authors: Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. s.buetow@auckland.ac.nz
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Buetow
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Fuehrer
authors: Kirsty
authors: K
authors: Macfarlane
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: McConnell
authors: Fiona
authors: F
authors: Moir
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Huggard
authors: Henry
authors: H
authors: Doerr