ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction influences the outcomes of the patient-physician encounter. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to validate the Malay version patient satisfaction (MISS-21) questionnaire using a confirmatory validity approach. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 252 patients attending primary health clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Construct validity (convergent and discriminant) using confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency were performed after the translation, content validity and face validity processes. Criterion validity was assessed using Pearson correlations with the scale of shared decision making 9-item questionnaire (SDMQ-9). The data was analysed using Analysis of Moment Structure version 19. RESULTS: A total of 252 (100%) outpatients responded to this study. The final model that consists of three domains with 11 items had a good fit; (χ (2) (df) = 65.805 (32), P < 0.001, Tucker-Lewis indices = 0.902, comparative fit index = 0.927, root mean square error of approximation = 0.061, standardized root mean square residual = 0.058). Composite reliability and average variance extracted of the domains ranged from 0.541 to 0.760 and 0.240 to 0.522, respectively. The SDMQ-9 had a moderate correlation with the total score of the final construct (r = 0.406, P <0.001). CONCLUSION: The study suggested that the three-factor model with 11 items of the Malay version MISS-21 could be used to assess patient satisfaction on patient-physician interaction in primary health care setting because it is acceptably valid, reliable and simple. The validated Malay version questionnaire was called as 'Skala Kepuasan Interaksi Perubatan-11'.
