Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-14-2010
Abstract
Objectives: This study was designed to investigate psychometric properties of the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy (JSPPPE), and to examine correlations between its scores and measures of overall satisfaction with physicians, personal trust, and indicators of patient compliance.
Methods: Research participants included 535 out-patients (between 18-75 years old, 66% female). A survey was mailed to participants which included the JSPPPE (5-item), a scale for measuring overall satisfaction with the primary care physician (10-item), and demographic questions. Patients were also asked about compliance with their physician's recommendation for preventive tests (colonoscopy, mammogram, and PSA for age and gender appropriate patients).
Results: Factor analysis of the JSPPPE resulted in one prominent component. Corrected item-total score correlations ranged from .88 to .94. Correlation between scores of the JSPPPE and scores on the patient satisfaction scale was 0.93. Scores of the JSPPPE were highly correlated with measures of physician-patient trust (r >.73). Higher scores of the JSPPPE were significantly associated with physicians' recommendations for preventive tests (colonoscopy, mammogram, and PSA) and with compliance rates which were > .80). Cronbach's coefficient alpha for the JSPPPE ranged from .97 to .99 for the total sample and for patients in different gender and age groups.
Conclusions: Empirical evidence supported the psychometrics of the JSPPPE, and confirmed significant links with patients' satisfaction with their physicians, interpersonal trust, and compliance with physicians' recommendations. Availability of this psychometrically sound instrument will facilitate empirical research on empathy in patient care in different countries.
Recommended Citation
Hojat, Mohammadreza; Lewis, Daniel Z.; Maxwell, Kaye; Markham, Fred; Wender, Richard; and Gonnella, Joseph S., "Patient perceptions of physician empathy, satisfaction with physician, interpersonal trust, and compliance" (2010). Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers. Paper 50.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/phbfp/50
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Language
English
Comments
This article is the author’s final published version in International Journal of Medical Education, Volume 1, December 2010, Pages 83-87.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.4d00.b701. Copyright © Hojat et al.