title: [Feedback on service provision in cancer patients using the Ward Satisfaction Questionnaire (WSQ)--testing a new tool].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Collecting information on patients' experiences and opinions is prerequisite to improving the quality of services at a ward. The Ward Satisfaction Questionnaire (WSQ) was developed for this purpose. We investigated its psychometric characteristics and percentage of missing values.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a period of 4 months, all patients at an interdisciplinary and an oncology ward were asked to complete the WSQ. Concordant validity was assessed using the Patient Involvement in Care Scales (PICS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  68 of 99 administered questionnaires were completed (response rate 69 %). The median of missing values per item was 6 % (0 -28 %). Internal consistency of the WSQ scales ranged from 0.68 ("Accessibility of Doctors") to 0.94 ("Doctor Consultations"). Cronbach's Alpha of the total score was 0.94. Scaling errors were 0 % ("Ward Rounds", "Doctor Consulations", "Accessibility Nurses") to 17 % ("Accessibility Doctors"). Variances of WSQ scales were relatively low. Correlation patterns of WSQ and PICS support the validity of WSQ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WSQ facilitates systematic feedback on inpatient services. Psychometric characteristics are good and validation in a larger patient sample is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Epidemiologie und Versorgungsforschung, Institut für Medizinische Biometrie, Epidemiologie und Informatik, Universitätsklinikum Mainz.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.affiliation: Psychoonkologischer Dienst, Universitätskrebszentrum, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hornemann
authors.affiliation: Zentralbereich Qualitäts- und Medizinisches Risikomanagement, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hertzschuch
authors.affiliation: Zentralbereich Qualitäts- und Medizinisches Risikomanagement, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Elchlep
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I und Universitätskrebszentrum, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hentschel
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I und Universitätskrebszentrum, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ehninger
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I und Universitätskrebszentrum, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Schuler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult