Validation of the 15-Care Transition Measure in Indian Settings

Background: The Care Transition Measure (CTM-15), a 15-item tool, assesses care quality from the patient's viewpoint during transitions. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of both the CTM-15 and its 3-item version (CTM-3) in an Indian tertiary care hospital. Methods: 300 patients from the hospital were interviewed three weeks post-discharge, using either English or Marathi versions of the CTM-15. Psychometric properties were evaluated separately for each language. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha, and construct validity was tested via T-tests or Pearson’s correlation. Exploratory factor analysis examined CTM-15's latent dimensions. Results: 112 (English) and 167 (Marathi) subjects completed the interviews. Cronbach’s alpha values for CTM-15 ranged from 0.82 to 0.87, and for CTM-3 from 0.58 to 0.61. Both versions correlated with post-discharge care experience (Pearson’s correlation: 0.36 to 0.46). English versions effectively discriminated between patients with and without ED visits or rehospitalization. Marathi versions showed no such difference. Both versions exhibited a 4-factor structure. Conclusions: The CTM is a valid and reliable measure for care transition quality in India. Implementing a simpler three-point response scale is feasible. Further studies should explore the Marathi version's discriminatory power.