Staff Views and Behaviour Regarding Patient Involvement in Myocardial Infarction Care: Development and Evaluation of a Questionnaire

BACKGROUND: Healthcare legislation in several nations now dictates the responsibility of health care professionals to involve patients in decisions concerning care and treatment. However, few studies have examined the impact of patient involvement on the work of health care professionals. A better understanding of staff views and behaviour might enhance patient involvement. AIM: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire for measuring views and behaviour regarding patient involvement among physicians and nursing staff caring for patients with myocardial infarction. METHODS: Focus groups among cardiology staff provided the basis for the construction of the questionnaire. Questionnaire validity and reliability were evaluated in a small pilot study and a larger cross-sectional study among cardiology staff at twelve Swedish hospitals. RESULTS: The questionnaire demonstrated good validity and reliability, with two factors measuring staff views and four measuring behaviour. CONCLUSION: The questionnaire appears to be a useful tool for evaluating the perceptions and behaviour of physicians and nursing staff regarding patient involvement in myocardial infarction care. Use of this questionnaire may provide insight regarding areas of staff-patient interaction that need improvement, as well as implications of patient involvement for the work of each professional group on cardiology wards.