Development and Psychometric Test of the Inpatients Experiences Measurement Scale (IEMS).

Abstract

Purpose: In South Korea, hospitalized patients' experiences significantly impact satisfaction and treatment outcomes. This study developed and evaluated the Inpatients Experience Measurement Scale (IEMS) for its psychometric properties.

Patients and methods: Participants from three hospitals were recruited using convenience sampling. Scale item generation involved patient interviews and a Delphi survey with experts. Psychometric testing used Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with 150 participants and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with 151 participants.

Results: A total of 301 patients participated, resulting in a 20-item scale across four factors: "Care Quality and Information Provision", "Patient Safety and Dietary Services", "Facility and Comfort Infrastructure", and "Comprehensive Patient Support Services". Rated on a 5-point Likert scale, the scale showed a high Content Validity Index (CVI) over 0.80. EFA explained 61.43% of the variance. The four-factor model was validated using CFA with favorable fit indices. The IEMS demonstrated strong convergent validity, supported by high composite reliability (CR) and average variance extracted (AVE) values. Significant correlations with the Patient Satisfaction Scale reinforced its convergent validity. Discriminant validity was confirmed, and all reliability measures exceeded the minimum threshold of 0.80.

Conclusion: The IEMS effectively captures inpatients' experiences, demonstrating robust reliability and validity. This scale is a valuable tool for assessing patient experiences, facilitating enhancements in patient care and satisfaction within hospital settings.