Validating the Support Needs Approach for Patients (SNAP) tool in primary care: a person-centred approach for patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Abstract

BackgroundPrimary care is at the forefront of COPD management. A person-centred approach is advocated, yet patients have difficulty in articulating their needs to health care professionals (HCPs). The Support Needs Approach for Patients (SNAP) tool aims to enable patients to identify and express their support needs but its validity is unknown.AimTo establish the face, content and criterion validity of the SNAP tool in advanced COPD.MethodTwo-stage mixed method primary care study involving patients with advanced COPD, and their carers. Stage 1: Face and content validity assessed though focus groups involving patients and carers (n = 12), considering the appropriateness, relevance and completeness of the SNAP tool. Data analysed using thematic analysis within a Framework Approach. Stage 2: Content and criteria validity assessed in a postal survey through patient self-completion of the SNAP tool and disease impact measures (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire, COPD Assessment Test, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Content validity assessed using summary statistics; criterion validity via correlations between tool items and impact measures.ResultsThe SNAP tool has good face, content and criterion validity. Patients and carers found the tool patient-friendly and potentially useful. No items on the tool were redundant, and clear correlations were found between tool items and the majority of items/sub-scales of the impact measures.ConclusionThe SNAP tool has good face validity; content and criteria validity will be reported. It has the potential to facilitate person-centred care by enabling patients to express their support needs to HCPs. Future work will pilot SNAP in clinical practice.