title: A Delphi Method Analysis to Create an Emergency Medicine Educational Patient Satisfaction Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Feedback on patient satisfaction (PS) as a means to monitor and improve performance in patient communication is lacking in residency training. A physician's promotion, compensation and job satisfaction may be impacted by his individual PS scores, once he is in practice. Many communication and satisfaction surveys exist but none focus on the emergency department setting for educational purposes. The goal of this project was to create an emergency medicine-based educational PS survey with strong evidence for content validity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the Delphi Method (DM) to obtain expert opinion via an iterative process of surveying. Questions were mined from four PS surveys as well as from group suggestion. The DM analysis determined the structure, content and appropriate use of the tool. The group used four-point Likert-type scales and Lynn's criteria for content validity to determine relevant questions from the stated goals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve recruited experts participated in a series of seven surveys to achieve consensus. A 10-question, single-page survey with an additional page of qualitative questions and demographic questions was selected. Thirty one questions were judged to be relevant from an original 48-question list. Of these, the final 10 questions were chosen. Response rates for individual survey items was 99.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DM produced a consensus survey with content validity evidence. Future work will be needed to obtain evidence for response process, internal structure and construct validity.
authors.affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Kory S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: London
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Bonita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singal
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prepejchal
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.affiliation: Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Finefrock
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires