This paper investigates whether a patient satisfaction questionnaire based on the RAND Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ-18) shows differences in results and in overall factor structure for two counties at two different time periods. Surveys were conducted to compare Medicaid recipients' perceptions of their health care under fee-for-service and under managed care. Incorporated into that survey were 17 questions from RAND's PSQ-18 and 2 questions from the long form (PSQ-III). The stratified random sample for this analysis consisted of 936 and 900 Medicaid recipients in Mecklenburg County in 1996 and 1998 respectively. In New Hanover County each of the 1996 and 1998 samples consisted of 200 recipients. For the 1996 survey the factor structure of the RAND was found to be different for the Medicaid samples than for the normative sample. This research compares the survey for two counties at the two time periods. For both counties and for both times the reliability of the questionnaire, assessed using Cronbach's alpha, was in the high 0.80's for all four samples. Using both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods, the number of factors and the factor structure differed among groups. In all groups, however, there was a second order factor of overall patient satisfaction. Therefore, this questionnaire appears to be of value for assessment of Medicaid recipients' satisfaction with their healthcare and with its ability to compare satisfaction between managed care and fee for service groups.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to 1) compare Medicaid recipients in two different counties in terms of their responses to a patient satisfaction sruvey, 2) understand the differences and similarities in overall constructs (or factors) in the two counties, and 3) assess whether the factor structure is different at the two time periods
Keywords: Assessments, Medicaid Managed Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.