Validating the translation of a Quality-of-Care (QoC) scale: An exploratory approach

ABSTRACT

A lot of clinical activities like preventive, treatment, and follow-up care services and functions are offered to patients by the healthcare sector. In this context, the Quality of Care (QoC) assesses the efficacy and effectiveness of care services. A tool like the Pyramid QoC questionnaire is used for the assessment of QoC. This tool has pitfalls like inadequate conceptualization and a lack of statistical validation. These gaps could be minimized by re-validating the existing QoC instruments. This study followed the aforementioned approach and re-validated a translated (Bangla) version of the QoC scale. The survey method was used for collecting data. The sample size for this study is 300 respondents. Robust statistical tools like Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were used for validation. As a unique contribution, this study offered geography and respondent centric validated QoC instruments. The translated QoC Scale would be useful to Indian healthcare service providers in managing and exceeding the patient's expectations. This tool would also be useful in offering better treatment outcomes and in improving profitability.

KEYWORDS:

• Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); exploratory factor analysis (EFA); healthcare management
• quality of care; scale validation
• translation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Kasturi Shukla

Dr Kasturi Shukla is a trained Hospital Administrator and had completed her Ph.D. (Doctorate) from King George's Medical University (India) in the subject area of Health Related Quality of Life and Quality of Care. She was awarded Vice Chancellor's Gold medal for Best PhD thesis in the year 2012. She has been working in this subject area since last 18 years. She has a strong record of 30+ original research articles published in the area of Health Related Quality of Life, Work Related Quality of Life, Quality of care and healthcare quality which are widely cited. She has around 20 years of work experience in Research and Post Graduate Teaching and is a Life member of some of the prestigious Healthcare Management bodies. She has authored books on Quality of Life and Hospital Management and has received grants for her research work. Her current areas of research include Quality of Life (QoL), Quality of Care, sustainability, and linkages of climate change with QoL.

Avadhut Patwardhan

Dr. Avadhut Arun Patwardhan is working as Assistant Professor at the Marketing and International Business department of K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management (KJSIM), Mumbai, India. He pursued his Fellowship (Doctoral) programme from National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai. He has more than 12 years of teaching experience. He has published his manuscripts in journals of international repute indexed in Scopus and ABDC list like International Journal of Healthcare Management.

Gourab Talapatra

Mr. Gourab Talapatra has completed his Master's in Hospital and Healthcare Management and is currently a freelancing healthcare professional.