Psychometric properties of the instrument quality in psychiatric care and descriptions of quality of care among in‐patients

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test the psychometric properties and dimensionality of a new instrument, quality in psychiatric care (QPC), and to describe and compare quality of care among in‐patients as measured by this instrument.Design/methodology/approachThe instrument quality in psychiatric care measures patients' experiences regarding quality of care. The instrument is based on a definition of quality of care from the patients' perspective. A sample of 265 in‐patients at eight general psychiatric wards in Sweden was assessed.FindingsExploratory factor analysis revealed that the original five‐dimensional 69‐item QPC was better with six dimensions and reduced to 30 items, hereinafter denoted quality in psychiatric care‐in‐patients (QPC‐IP) with retained internal consistency. The patients' ratings of quality of care were generally high; the highest rating was for quality of encounter and the lowest for participation.Research limitations/implicationsAnalysis of the dropouts was not possible because of incomplete registrations at the wards.Practical implicationsQPC‐IP is a simple, inexpensive and quick way to evaluate quality of care and thus contributes to health care improvement in the field of psychiatry.Originality/valueThe new 30 items instrument, QPC‐IP includes important aspects of patients' perceptions of quality of care. The QPC‐IP is psychometrically adequate and thus recommended for evaluating patients' experiences of the quality of psychiatric care.