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Development of a quality of patient–health care provider communication scale from the perspective of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives: To devise a patient-perspective driven measure of the quality of patient–health care provider communication and to evaluate the psychometric properties of this scale in a sample of 150 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Items were developed from interviews with 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Two rheumatologists, a behavioral scientist, and a nurse researcher provided item feedback. Exploratory factor analysis with Oblimin rotation was used to examine the dimensionality of the newly developed Patient–Health Care Provider Communication Scale (PHCPCS). Cronbach’s alpha was computed to assess internal consistency. Test–retest reliability was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Construct validity was tested by comparing the PHCPCS with the Perceived Involvement in Care Scale (PICS) using correlation analysis. Results: The PHCPCS measured two dimensions of the quality of patient–health care provider communication [Quality Communication (α = 0.94) and Negative Patient–Health Care Provider Communication (α = 0.73)]. The total PHCPCS score and its Quality Communication Subscale were positively correlated with the total score on the PICS and with the doctor facilitation subscale of the PICS. Discussion: This new measure of the quality of patient–health care provider communication has the potential for use in clinical practice, provider education, and further studies to improve health care to patients with rheumatoid arthritis.