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The development of a maternal satisfaction scale for caesarean section
1Department of Anaesthesia, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Ave, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
|August 24, 2004
Summary
A new maternal satisfaction scale was developed for women undergoing caesarean section. This validated and reliable tool offers more detailed insights than a simple visual analogue scale (VAS).
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Maternal satisfaction is a key outcome measure in healthcare.
- Existing tools like the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) may lack specificity for caesarean section experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a reliable maternal satisfaction scale specifically for women undergoing caesarean section.
- To provide a more nuanced assessment of patient satisfaction compared to existing methods.
Main Methods:
- Content and face validity were established through patient interviews.
- A draft scale was administered to 115 patients; items were refined based on endorsement rates, item-total correlations, and factor analysis.
- Construct validity was assessed by correlating the new scale with a VAS, and reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha.
Main Results:
- The final scale demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.82).
- Construct validity was supported by a correlation of 0.48 with the VAS.
- Maternal sense of control emerged as the strongest predictor of overall satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- The developed scale is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing maternal satisfaction in women undergoing non-emergent caesarean sections.
- This new tool offers a more comprehensive evaluation of patient experience than a simple VAS.