title: Improving cancer patient care: development of a generic cancer consumer quality index questionnaire for cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To develop a Consumer Quality Index (CQI) Cancer Care questionnaire for measuring experiences with hospital care of patients with different types of cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We derived quality aspects from focus group discussions, existing questionnaires and literature. We developed an experience questionnaire and sent it to 1,498 Dutch cancer patients. Another questionnaire measuring the importance of the quality aspects was sent to 600 cancer patients. Data were psychometrically analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response to the experience questionnaire was 50 percent. Psychometric analysis revealed 12 reliable scales. Patients rated rapid and adequate referral, rapid start of the treatment after diagnosis, enough information and confidence in the healthcare professionals as most important themes. Hospitals received high scores for skills and cooperation of healthcare professionals and a patient-centered approach by doctors; and low scores for psychosocial guidance and information at completion of the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CQI Cancer Care questionnaire is a valuable tool for the evaluation of the quality of cancer care from the patient's perspective. Large scale implementation is necessary to determine the discriminatory powers of the questionnaire and may enable healthcare providers to improve the quality of cancer care. Preliminary results indicate that hospitals could improve their psychosocial guidance and information provision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Demand-Driven Healthcare, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, NIVEL, PO box 1568, Utrecht 3500 BN, The Netherlands. j.booij@nivel.nl
authors.forename: Judith C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Booij
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zegers
authors.forename: Pauline M P J
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Evers
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: Diana M J
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Delnoij
authors.forename: Jany J D J M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rademakers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009426:Netherlands; D057240:Patient Preference; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011594:Psychometrics; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult