Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Development and Validation of a People-Centred Scale for Evaluating Care Pathway Experiences
Vittoria Sturlese1, Gerardo Petruzziello2, Stefano Benini1
1Clinical and Quality Management Unit, Governo Clinico, Ricerca, Formazione e Sistemi Qualità, Azienda USL di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Introduction:
Care pathways (CPs) are essential for ensuring coordinated, high-quality healthcare, yet patient-reported experiences remain underexplored. In Italy, no validated tool exists to systematically assess persons' perspectives on CPs. This study aimed to develop and validate a scale to measure patient-reported experiences with CPs.
Methods:
A mixed-method approach was used. First, a literature review, a Delphi study involving healthcare professionals, and focus groups with persons and interest-holders informed the generation of items. Next, a pilot test with 218 persons diagnosed with breast cancer refined the scale. Finally, a quantitative study involving 12 CPs across three healthcare organisations assessed the scale's properties using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.
Results:
Factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure encompassing person-centrality, responsiveness, integration, and organisation. The scale demonstrated good internal validity, with satisfactory reliability for most factors. Correlations with overall CP evaluation, satisfaction, and self-reported health provided support for external validity. However, the organisational factor showed lower reliability, requiring further refinement.
Discussion:
This study provides a robust, multidimensional tool for assessing patients' reported experiences with CPs. Its findings highlight the importance of person-centred care and integrated service delivery.
Conclusion:
The newly developed scale offers a validated measure to enhance CP evaluation, supporting people-centred healthcare practice and policy improvements.
Related Concept Videos
Patient-centered Care
Data Validation
Nursing assessment guides are generally based on holistic models rather than medical...
Nursing Evaluation
Section...
Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
Planning Nursing Care II
Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching III: Evaluation and Documentation
Nurses can use several methods to evaluate patient outcomes. For example, oral questions can assess cognitive learning, patient...
