The Chinese version of the patients’ experiences scale for older inpatients in the medical group: Instrument development and cross-sectional validation study

Abstract

Value-based healthcare is increasingly emphasizing attention to patients' self-reported experiences. However, due to the lack of effective tools, older patients in China lack feedback on the comprehensive care experience. Based on the psychometric assessment procedure, we developed a new geriatric inpatient experience scale (GIES). The study comprised two stages: (1) instrument development and (2) empirical testing. Through literature screening and Delphi methods, 26 preliminary items were identified. The content and facial validity tests then produced 23 items across eight factors: ‘Doctor-patient communication’, ‘Engagement’, ‘Privacy’, ‘Right to know’, ‘Services timeliness’, ‘Continuity care’, ‘Visiting environment’, and ‘Overall satisfaction’. Using reliability analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate psychometric characteristics, GIES showed good reliability and structural validity. As a multidimensional instrument for the experience of older patients, the application of GIES in clinical practice can assist healthcare providers in identifying areas for improvement to improve care experiences and outcomes for older patients.