A questionnaire on treatment satisfaction and disease specific knowledge among patients with acute coronary syndrome. I: Are treatment satisfaction and disease specific knowledge continuous latent traits?

Patient Educ Couns · 2012

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess psychometric properties of a questionnaire covering treatment satisfaction and disease-specific knowledge among patients discharged after treatment for acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: Comparative scaling of the questionnaire using latent class analysis (LCA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in a consecutive sample of 2015 patients. RESULTS: LCA revealed four qualitatively differing patterns of patients' knowledge and five distinct patterns of treatment satisfaction. EFA for patients' knowledge identified four uncorrelated "dimensions". Patient satisfaction was scored in a two-factor solution despite proven heterogeneity of persons. CONCLUSIONS: LCA was helpful to identify classes of patients that cannot be scaled according to a latent trait model. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Specific patterns of insufficient disease-specific knowledge and satisfaction requiring specific interventions became visible.