title: Development and evaluation of a Dental Patient Feedback on Consultation skills (DPFC) measure to enhance communication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To adapt an existing medical questionnaire on patient-provider communication for use in the dental setting, and to evaluate the performance of the measure in a first dental encounter (validity and reliability).
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient feedback questionnaire on consultation skills was adapted for use in dental settings through content and convergent validity. A survey of dentist consultation skills was conducted among adults attending a teaching hospital. Patients self-completed a 16-item Dental Patient Feedback on Consultation skills (DPFC) questionnaire during their first dental consultations. Repeat assessments were conducted on -10% of the sample. Variations in DPFC responses (scale and item level) were examined in relation to socio-demographics and dental attendance pattern in bivariate and regression analyses. Internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient - ICC) were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A DPFC questionnaire was derived following minor modifications. The clarity of items ranged from 81.1-100% and content validity index ranged from 0.73-1.00. Exploratory item factor analysis showed a one-dimensional construct. The response rate to the survey was 90.5% (389/430). Variations in DPFC scores with respect to global rating of satisfaction were apparent (P < 0.001). Cronbach's alpha value was 0.94 and ICC value was 0.89. Bivariate and regression analyses identified dental attendance pattern as a key factor associated with DPFC (P < 0.05); but no significant differences were observed with respect to socio-demographic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A DPFC questionnaire was adapted with acceptable validity and reliability. Dental service utilization pattern was associated with dentist-patient clinical communication rather than socio-demographics.
authors.forename: B S S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bridges
authors.forename: C K Y
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Yiu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires