Patient experiences in nurse-led inpatient care: development and validation of a questionnaire to support the shift toward patient-centered services

Patient experience is a key indicator of healthcare quality. South Korea’s Integrated Nursing and Care Service (INCS) model replaces family-dependent caregiving with nurse-led inpatient care, yet existing instruments may not adequately capture its unique features. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically validate an INCS-specific patient experience instrument. A methodological study was conducted. Items were developed through literature review, focus group interviews with INCS nurses, and expert content validation. Psychometric testing used data from 237 recently discharged patients across 126 hospitals. Construct and concurrent validity and internal consistency were assessed. The final INCS Patient Experience Scale (INCS-PES) comprised 12 items across four domains: personalized care , information and communication , support for activities of daily living , and facilities and environment. The four-factor model demonstrated acceptable fit (CFI = 0.966, TLI = 0.953, RMSEA = 0.069), good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.90). Concurrent validity was also supported. The 12-item INCS-PES, together with three contextual and two global evaluation items, formed the 17-item INCS Patient Experience Questionnaire (INCS-PEQ). The INCS-PEQ provides a context-specific approach to assessing patient experience in nurse-led inpatient care without informal caregivers and may support quality improvement and patient-centered care.