Development and validation of a patient measure of doctor-patient caring

Objective

Conceptualising the doctor-patient relationship as a ‘window mirror’ exposes care delivery from doctor to self, doctor to patient, patient to self, and patient to doctor. These directions have not been measured concurrently. We aimed to develop and validate a patient questionnaire informed by this model.

Methods

A modified-Delphi exercise was conducted to develop, and face and content validate, the questionnaire. Stage 2 surveyed 495 patients in general practice to assess the internal consistency and construct validity of the questionnaire.

Results

The questionnaire is face and content valid. Its internal reliability and construct validity appear good. Patients who care more about their doctor also care more about themselves. A patient or doctor who cares about the other person is associated with increased self-care by that person.

Conclusions

Further development and testing of the patient questionnaire is warranted to validate measurement of how patients perceive the caring they and their doctor give, and receive from, each other.

Practice implications

From the patient perspective the questionnaire may increase awareness of the importance of family doctors and patients caring about each other and themselves. It may inform and evaluate medical students, educational programmes and caring in doctor-patient relationships.