title: Piloting a generic cancer consumer quality index in six European countries.
abstract: Accounting for patients' perspective has become increasingly important. Based on the Consumer Quality Index method (founded on Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) a questionnaire was recently developed for Dutch cancer patients. As a next step, this study aimed to adapt and pilot this questionnaire for international comparison of cancer patients experience and satisfaction with care in six European countries.
  
  
  
  The Consumer Quality Index was translated into the local language at the participating pilot sites using cross-translation. A minimum of 100 patients per site were surveyed through convenience sampling. Data from seven pilot sites in six countries was collected through an online and paper-based survey. Internal consistency was tested by calculating Cronbach's alpha and validity by means of cognitive interviews. Demographic factors were compared as possible influencing factors.
  
  
  
  A total of 698 patients from six European countries filled the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha was good or satisfactory in 8 out of 10 categories. Patient satisfaction significantly differed between the countries. We observed no difference in patient satisfaction for age, gender, education, and tumor type, but satisfaction was significantly higher in patients with a higher level of activation.
  
  
  
  This European Cancer Consumer Quality Index(ECCQI) showed promising scores on internal consistency (reliability) and a good internal validity. The ECCQI is to our knowledge the first to measure and compare experiences and satisfaction of cancer patients on an international level, it may enable healthcare providers to improve the quality of cancer care.
authors: Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Health Technology and Services Research, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors: Anke
authors: A
authors: Wind
authors: Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, OX1 3QD, Oxford, UK.
authors: Mark Patrick
authors: MP
authors: Roeling
authors: Department of Health Technology and Services Research, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors: Jana
authors: J
authors: Heerink
authors: Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), P.O. box 1568, 3500 BN, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Herman
authors: H
authors: Sixma
authors: European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC), 40 rue de Montoyer, Brussels, Belgium.|Department of Management, University of Torino, C.so Unione Sovietica 218 Bis, 10134, Turin, Italy.
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Presti
authors: Organisation of the European Cancer Institute's (OECI), 11 Rue d'Egmont B-1000, Brussels, Belgium.|SOS Europe Srl, Via delle Campanule, 74, 16148, Genova, Italy.
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Lombardo
authors: Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. WvanHarten@Rijnstate.nl.|Department of Health Technology and Services Research, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands. WvanHarten@Rijnstate.nl.|CEO Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands. WvanHarten@Rijnstate.nl.
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: van Harten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D007558:Italy; D008097:Lithuania; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011174:Portugal; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012383:Romania; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Consumer Quality Index (CQI); Healthcare evaluation; Healthcare quality; Patient experience; Patient satisfaction