PCPI-S SF: development and psychometric assessment of the Person-centred Practice Inventory Staff-Short Form

Effective and efficient measurement of person-centred healthcare practice is essential for evaluating organizational systems and individual practice, thus ensuring that healthcare systems are aligned with the principles of person-centredness. Despite its benefits, such as improved patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency, measurement of person-centred practice (PCP) is challenging, due to its multidimensionality. The Person-centred Practice Inventory-Staff (PCPI-S) is an instrument specifically designed to measure PCP cultures from the perspectives of staff.

This study uses a non-parametric, item-response theory approach to present the development of a shorter, more adaptable instrument called PCPI-S Short Form (PCPI-S SF). It also aims to raise the issue of social desirability bias in responses and provides solutions.

Mokken scale analyses were performed on datasets collated from seven countries (N = 3773). Psychometric analyses informed by PCP resulted in a 23-item questionnaire with satisfactory reliability estimates. The PCPI-S SF demonstrated strong cross-cultural applicability and unidimensional item structures, confirming its suitability for use across diverse healthcare contexts. Items in the new questionnaire were locally independent, scalable, and demonstrated monotonicity.

The PCPI-S SF is an effective, resource-efficient measure of PCP, which preserves the conceptual underpinnings of the original PCPI-S with a high degree of psychometric fidelity. The development of the PCPI-S SF represents a significant advancement in the measurement of PCP. As healthcare systems continue to prioritize PCP, the PCPI-S SF offers a valuable global resource for ongoing evaluation and improvement of practice, ultimately supporting better patient care and staff well-being.