A Measurement Scale to Assess Children's Satisfaction with Hospitalization in the Andalusian Population

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare quality assessment
• Psychometric scale development
• Hospital patient experience research

Background:

• Patient satisfaction is crucial for evaluating pediatric hospital stays.
• Emotional well-being during hospitalization impacts treatment adherence.
• A validated tool is needed to measure children's hospital satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a scale for assessing children's satisfaction with their hospital stay in Andalusia.
• To identify key factors influencing pediatric patient satisfaction.
• To provide a reliable instrument for hospital quality improvement.

Main Methods:

• The Children's Satisfaction with Hospitalization Questionnaire (CSHQ) was administered to 623 pediatric patients.
• Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to determine underlying dimensions.
• A depuration analysis process refined the scale for validity and unidimensionality.

Main Results:

• An eleven-item, one-dimension scale demonstrated good consistency and fit.
• The primary dimension identified was 'hosting aspects' of the hospital stay.
• The scale effectively measures children's satisfaction in Andalusian hospitals.

Conclusions:

• A unidimensional scale for assessing pediatric patient satisfaction in Andalusian hospitals has been established.
• Hosting aspects are identified as the principal driver of satisfaction.
• Further research should explore additional dimensions of patient satisfaction.