Patient Satisfaction with Health Care Decisions

Abstract

Patient satisfaction measures have previously addressed satisfaction with medical care, satisfaction with providers, and satisfaction with outcomes, but not satisfaction with the health care decision itself. As patients become more involved in health care decisions, it is important to understand specific dynamics of the decision itself. The Satisfaction with Decision (SWD) scale measures satisfaction with health care decisions. It was developed in the context of postmenopausal hormone-replacement therapy decisions. The six-item scale has excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86). Discriminant validity, tested by performing principal-components analysis of items pooled from the SWD scale and two conceptually related measures, was good. Correlation of the SWD scale with measures of satisfaction with other aspects of the decision-making process showed the SWD scale was correlated most highly (0.64) with "decisional confidence," and least with "desire to participate in health care decisions" and "satisfaction with provider." The SWD scale predicts decision certainty in this study. Use in an independent study showed that the SWD scale was correlated with the likelihood of patients' intentions to get a flu shot. Further investigation in relation to other health decisions will establish the utility of the SWD scale as an outcome measure.

Decisional outcomes following use of an interactive web-based decision aid for prostate cancer screening

“…Satisfaction with Decision Scale- [39]. The Satisfaction with Decision Scale includes six items with response choices on a five-point scale, from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree."…”

The decision evaluation scales

“…We believe that this finding is not really at odds with previous findings. For instance, three reports [4,9,11] examined uncertainty and satisfaction. O'Connor reported strong correlations between the effective decision making and uncertainty scales, up to 0.66.…”

“…Several scales have been developed: the Decisional Conflict Scale [9], comprising the subscales Uncertainty, and Factors Contributing to Uncertainty; the Effective Decision Making scales; [9] the Satisfaction with Decision scale [11], the Decision Attitude Scale [4], the Satisfaction with decision making process questionnaire [12], the Satisfaction with Decision Made Questionnaire [12], the Decision Self Efficacy Scale [13] the Decision Emotional Control scale [13], and the Decision Regret scale [14]. In general, these scales have shown good internal reliability (Cronbach's a), and test-retest reliability.…”

“…For instance, Decision Uncertainty and Satisfaction with the Decision have generally been found to be strongly correlated [9,11]; but whether both scales tap into the same construct is not known. Furthermore, some scales (e.g.…”

“…Additional concepts were considered. These concepts emerged after reviewing the above literature [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15], and the decision making, social psychological, health psychological, and coping literatures. The following concepts were identified: (1) affective evaluation including uncertainty and satisfaction with the decision; (2) informed choice; (3) effective decision making; (4) responsibility, blame, control; (5) perceived riskiness; (6) social support and social approval.…”