International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care
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Int J Qual Health Care · Aug 1999
Meta AnalysisHow valid and reliable are patient satisfaction data? An analysis of 195 studies.
To assess the properties of validity and reliability of instruments used to assess satisfaction in a broad sample of health service user satisfaction studies, and to assess the level of awareness of these issues among study authors. ⋯ With few exceptions, the study instruments in this sample demonstrated little evidence of reliability or validity. Moreover, study authors exhibited a poor understanding of the importance of these properties in the assessment of satisfaction. Researchers must be aware that this is poor research practice, and that lack of a reliable and valid assessment instrument casts doubt on the credibility of satisfaction findings.
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Int J Qual Health Care · Aug 1999
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyOveruse and underuse of diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in various clinical settings.
To describe and compare both overuse and underuse of diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in different settings. ⋯ Rates of overuse and underuse depend mainly on case presentation and patient characteristics. Both over- and underuse should be addressed to maintain and improve quality of care.
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Int J Qual Health Care · Aug 1999
Multicenter StudyPatient satisfaction in Bangkok: the impact of hospital ownership and patient payment status.
Patient satisfaction with care received is an important dimension of evaluation that is examined only rarely in developing countries. Evidence about how satisfaction differs according to type of provider or patient payment status is extremely limited. ⋯ The survey confirms, to some extent, the stereotypes about quality of care in hospitals of different ownership. The results on payment status are intriguing but warrant further research.
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Int J Qual Health Care · Aug 1999
Multicenter StudyQuality management in Australian emergency medicine: translation of theory into practice.
The primary objective was to describe the current level of implementation of quality management (QM) structures and practices with Australian emergency departments. The secondary objective was to describe the level of association between the presence of QM structures and processes and the achievement of associated improvements. ⋯ Demonstration of the links between QM structures, its indicators of activity (in structure and process), and the achievement of outcome improvement is fundamental to quality improvement methodology. These links are demonstrated within the context of Australian emergency medicine, providing support for the effectiveness of this approach in promoting change and performance improvement.