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PubMed2004

Vardenafil improves patient satisfaction with erection hardness, orgasmic function, and overall sexual experience, while improving quality of life in men with erectile dysfunction.

PURPOSE: The North American Pivotal Trial was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of vardenafil in males with erectile dysfunction (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, fixed-dose, parallel group, 6-month study, vardenafil at three doses (5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg) was compared to placebo with the primary efficacy variables being the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Erectile Function (EF) domain score and per patient diary response success rates for penetration and maintenance of erection through completion of intercourse. Additional efficacy variables included IIEF domain scores measuring intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, sexual desire, and overall satisfaction. Diary entries for overall per patient satisfaction rates for hardness and sexual experience were also measured. Improvements in quality of sexual life were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer quality of life (QoL) questionnaire. RESULTS: Compared to placebo, patients taking 10 mg and 20 mg doses of vardenafil showed statistically significantly greater improvement in IIEF domain scores measuring intercourse satisfaction (10.3 and 10.3 vs. 7.7), orgasmic function (7.1 and 6.9 vs. 5.3), overall satisfaction. (7.1 and 7.1 vs. 5.2) for vardenafil 10 mg and 20 mg vs. placebo, respectively, at last observation carried forward (LOCF). Vardenafil 5 mg was statistically significantly better than placebo for the secondary IIEF domain variables of intercourse satisfaction (8.9 vs. 7.7) and overall satisfaction (6.3 vs. 5.2) for vardenafil vs. placebo, respectively, at LOCF. Per patient satisfaction rates for the secondary diary variables measuring erection hardness (38%, 52%, 58% and 18%) and overall satisfaction (45%, 58%, 62% and 23%) were dose dependent and statistically significantly superior for vardenafil at 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg compared with placebo, respectively. Patients' answers to the Fugl-Meyer QoL questionnaire assessing improvement in sexual life also indicated statistically significant superiority for all doses of vardenafil vs. placebo treatment. The most frequent adverse events (AE) in the 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg of vardenafil and placebo groups, respectively, were: headache (10%, 22%, 21% and 4%), flushing (5%, 10%, 13% and 0%), dyspepsia (1%, 4%, 6% and < 1%), and rhinitis (9%, 14%, 17% and 5%). Most AEs were mild or moderate in severity and transient in nature. CONCLUSION: Vardenafil was superior to placebo for IIEF domain scores, per patient success rates for diary questions, and assessment of quality of sexual life, in a broad range of patients with ED irrespective of etiology or severity. Vardenafil was generally well tolerated, with most AEs being mild or moderate in severity and transient in nature.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An explanatory model of nurse practitioner job satisfaction.

Job satisfaction influences employee retention, worker productivity, and performance quality. To retain qualified nurse practitioners (NPs), health administrators must identify sources of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Herzberg's dual-factor theory of job satisfaction addresses extrinsic and intrinsic work-related factors. Expansion of the model to include global job satisfaction and individual differences provided a broad framework for the assessment of nurse practitioner job satisfaction. The expanded model was used to analyze the job satisfaction of 132 NPs registered with the South Carolina State Board of Nursing in 1988 (final response rate = 90%). Participants completed the Index of Job Satisfaction (IJS), the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (MSQ-SF), and the Personal and Work Background Questionnaire (PWBQ). Although the NPs were moderately satisfied with their overall jobs, extrinsic factors were found to be major sources of dissatisfaction. The optimal combination of variables predicted by regression analysis to influence global job satisfaction were age, number of children, urban locations, achievement, company policies and practices, creativity, independence, and compensation. Implications for health administrators to improve the work environments of NPs are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Satisfaction of attenders during the establishment of an Australian mammography screening program.

We aimed to examine the satisfaction and the predictors of reported satisfaction with the service offered by a pilot mammography screening service. Information was collected from 481 attenders at the screening clinic and from 318 consecutive attenders at the recall clinic using two different standard self-administered questionnaires covering respectively six and five dimensions of satisfaction. For the screening clinic attenders, mean scores on most subscales indicated quite high levels of satisfaction. There were no significant differences among different samples over time for the perceptions of technical competence of the staff. Decreases in reported level of satisfaction were found for subscales measuring interpersonal skills, information giving, physical surroundings, convenience and accessibility, and general satisfaction. Waiting times, age and marital status were predictors in most satisfaction subscales. For those attending the recall clinic, mean satisfaction scores for most scales were high, except for the scale measuring satisfaction with the way the results were received. The median time between screening and recall visits for women in this study was 27 days (range 3 to 112 days). Attenders were most dissatisfied with the delay in getting results, an area where the service might improve.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Job satisfaction of registered dental practitioners.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to measure job satisfaction among registered clinical dentists so as to identify issues which may influence recruitment and retention of dentists in active clinical practice. METHODS: A questionnaire measuring dimensions of job satisfaction was mailed to a stratified random sample of 80 private and 80 public sector dentists selected from the 1999 Victorian Dental Register. RESULTS: An adjusted response rate of 60 per cent was achieved (n = 87). Analyses showed significant differences (ANOVA; p < 0.05) in levels of satisfaction for various dimensions of job satisfaction by gender, age group and practice type. Differences in job satisfaction between male and female dentists related to the personal time dimension. Differences in satisfaction between dentists of different age groups were attributable to six dimensions: relationships with colleagues, relationships with patients, relationships with staff, personal time, community and administrative responsibilities. Differences between levels of satisfaction among private and public dentists related to the autonomy, relationships with patients, pay and resources dimensions. CONCLUSION: There are various dimensions of job satisfaction that may be pertinent to issues influencing recruitment and retention of dentists. Differences that exist between levels of job satisfaction among private and public sector dentists, between male and female dentists and dentists of different age groups need to be addressed in order to improve recruitment and retention rates of dentists in active clinical practice in different sectors of the dental care system.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Postal survey of patients' satisfaction with a general practice out of hours cooperative.

OBJECTIVE: To assess patients' satisfaction with out of hours care by a general practice cooperative compared with that by a deputising service. DESIGN: Postal questionnaire survey. SETTING: A general practice cooperative in London and a deputising service operating in an overlapping area. SUBJECTS: Weighted samples of patients receiving telephone advice, a home visit, or attending a primary care centre after contacting either service in an eight week period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients' overall satisfaction and scores for specific aspects of satisfaction. Satisfaction with telephone advice or attendance at centre compared with home visit. Relation between satisfaction and patient's age, sex, ethnic group, car ownership, preference for consulting own doctor, and expectation of a visit. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 67% (1555/2312). There was little difference in overall satisfaction between patients contacting the cooperative or the deputising service, but patients contacting the latter were less satisfied with the explanation and advice received and the wait for a visit. There were significant differences between patients in different age and ethnic groups, with white patients and those aged over 60 years being more satisfied. Lower scores for overall satisfaction were reported by patients who received telephone advice, those who would have preferred to see their own doctor or who originally wanted a home visit, and those who waited longer for their consultation. Overall levels of patients' satisfaction seemed to be lower than previously reported. CONCLUSIONS: There were larger differences in satisfaction between different groups of patients than between different models of organisation for out of hours care. A shift to a service based predominantly on telephone advice may lead to increased patient dissatisfaction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of patient satisfaction with ambulatory visits in competing health care delivery settings in Geneva, Switzerland.

OBJECTIVES: To measure satisfaction with medical visits in various health care settings and to assess the extent to which differences in satisfaction scores between health care settings can be attributed to patients' characteristics. DESIGN: This was a cross sectional survey to measure seven dimensions of patient satisfaction. SETTINGS: Ambulatory visits to 'gatekeepers' or specialists in a newly established managed care organisation, a private group practice, or a university hospital outpatient clinic in Geneva, Switzerland. PATIENTS: There were altogether 1027 adult patients (81% participation rate). RESULTS: Patients who consulted physicians in the private group practice reported higher levels of satisfaction (overall mean 83.2 on a scale between 0 and 100) than university clinic patients (79.7), patients of independent specialists within the managed plan (78.5), and patients of managed plan gatekeepers (69.8, intergroup differences p < 0.001). Differences between settings were reduced after adjustment for sex, age, country of origin, general practitioner versus specialist visit, and scheduled versus urgent visit (adjusted scores: 80.8, 78.8, 77.6, and 72.7 in the four settings, p < 0.001). Intergroup differences were largest for general satisfaction, but small and non-significant for satisfaction with explanations given by the physician and for time spent with the patient. CONCLUSIONS: Patient satisfaction varied widely between health care settings. Differences in satisfaction ratings could be ascribed only partly to disparities in patient populations. Patients of managed plan gatekeepers were least satisfied, presumably because they could not choose their physician freely. Comparison of patient satisfaction across health care settings can provide a basis for targeted quality improvement initiatives.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Patient satisfaction with out of hours primary medical care.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the relationship between patient satisfaction with out of hours care provided by deputising and practice doctors in four urban areas in England and characteristics of the service provided and patients, the care given, and health outcomes. SETTING: -Fourteen general practices in four urban areas in England. PARTICIPANTS: People who requested out of hours care. DESIGN: Analysis of data from a study of out of hours care. Patients were interviewed within 5 days of their request for out of hours care. Data on the service provided were obtained from medical records and all other data were collected at interview. Satisfaction was measured using a valid reliable instrument. RESULTS: 2152 patients were recruited to the study and 1466 were interviewed. Satisfaction data were available on 1402 patients. "Overall satisfaction" was associated with age, doctor type, lack of access to a car at the time of the request, and health outcome. The relationships between satisfaction subscales and patient characteristics (age, sex, ethnicity, and access to a car at the time of the request), service characteristics (doctor type and delay between the request and visit), whether a prescription was given, and health outcome were variable. If an expected home visit was not received, "overall satisfaction" and satisfaction with "communication and management", "doctor's attitude", and "initial contact person" were reduced. CONCLUSION: Patient satisfaction is dependent on many factors. Mismatch between patient expectation and the service received is related to decreased satisfaction. This may increase as general practitioners delegate more out of hours care to cooperatives and deputising services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Measuring patient satisfaction: a test of construct validity.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the validity of two patient satisfaction questionnaires (surgery satisfaction questionnaire (SSQ) and consultation satisfaction questionnaire (CSQ)) developed for use in general practice. DESIGN: Prospective study of performance of SSQ and CSQ in patients selected for their predicted levels of satisfaction. SETTING: Avon Family Health Services Authority (FHSA); general practices in Bristol (practice A) and in Cheltenham (practice B). PATIENTS: 400 patients selected by Avon FHSA who had changed practices but not their home address and whose original practice had not changed its services (group 1); 869 randomly selected patients (221 from practice A, 648 from practice B) (group 2). MAIN MEASURES: Median difference in satisfaction scores for each questionnaire between groups 1 and 2 and between subgroups of group 2 patients according to assessed level in continuity of care (< 50%, > or = 50%) in the past 12 consultations. RESULTS: 272 (68.0%) patients in group 1 completed the SSQ and CSQ. 711 (81.2%) patients in group 2 (178/221 (80.5%) in practice A, 533/648(82.3%) in practice B) completed the SSQ and 374(88/106(83.0%), 286/335(85.4%)) completed the CSQ. Both questionnaires classified patients in groups 1 and 2 according to the construct of satisfaction; thus the difference in median scores for every component of satisfaction in each questionnaire was significant and occurred in the direction predicted by the construct. Each questionnaire also discriminated between patients grouped according to their assessed level of continuity of care. CONCLUSION: SSQ and CSQ are valid measures of satisfaction for these types of patients. IMPLICATIONS: Valid measures of patient satisfaction can be developed; untested instruments should no longer be used.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Patient satisfaction: an indicator of quality in disablement services centres.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a patient satisfaction system for disablement services centres and to report on how the initial findings have been used in audit to improve their quality of care and services. DESIGN: Interview survey of randomly selected users attending in three centres: Birmingham (centre X), Oxford (centre Y), and Cambridge (centre Z) to establish core topics for developing a patient satisfaction questionnaire with incorporation into a computer patient satisfaction system (PATSAT) to enable collation of responses to the questionnaire. A pilot of the questionnaire was undertaken in the centres to assess the sensitivity of the questionnaire, which was subsequently used as part of clinical audit process during June 1991 and April 1992 in centre X and the patient satisfaction system used to monitor changes in routine practice. PATIENTS: 123 amputees in the development phase, selected by cluster sampling, and 1103 amputees in the pilot study. MAIN MEASURES: Satisfaction scores for components of the service. RESULTS: The questionnaire included 16 core topics contributing to quality of care and services, including comfort of limbs, appointments, interpersonal aspects of care, a system of support and counselling, and organisation. The pilot survey demonstrated high satisfaction scores for aspects of interpersonal care, organisation, and physical surroundings of the centres and lower satisfaction for counselling services, comfort of the limb and the number of alterations made before the limb was considered acceptable. During the audit in centre X these results prompted changes to care and services which produced significant improvements in satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The early results suggest that the questionnaire, coupled with PATSAT software system, enable users' views to be expressed, collated, and fed back to staff; the information provided has already prompted change, and the system is sufficiently sensitive to measure changes in satisfaction with the service.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Women's satisfaction with pregnancy follow-up. Differences among healthcare levels].

OBJECTIVES: To determine women's satisfaction with pregnancy follow-up and to evaluate possible differences among healthcare levels. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in women who had given birth in the University Hospital of Salamanca (Spain) between November 2002 and April 2003. Satisfaction was measured by a self-completed questionnaire after delivery. The questionnaire contained 28 items, with five optional answers (1, not satisfied; 5, highly satisfied), distributed in four dimensions: accessibility, equipment, organization of the consultation, and professional competence. Social demographic and healthcare-related variables were also included. Student's t-test, variance analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient and logistic regression were used to study the association between these variables and satisfaction. RESULTS: A total of 27.1% of pregnancies were followed-up in primary care. The mean global satisfaction was 3.92 (95% CI, 3.88-3.97), and satisfaction was higher in women followed-up in primary care than those followed-up in specialized care. All dimensions obtained a global satisfaction of more than 3; "accessibility" received the worst score and "professional competence" the highest. The factors significantly associated with satisfaction were age, educational level, the presence of risk factors and complications, and the possibility of choosing the physician. CONCLUSIONS: General satisfaction was good. Because satisfaction was higher in women followed-up in primary care than in those followed-up in specialized care, pregnancy follow-up at this level of healthcare should be supported.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Measuring clients' satisfaction with self-help agencies.

OBJECTIVE: Clients' satisfaction with their involvement in treatment decisions has been largely overlooked in the formulation of satisfaction measures. The authors describe the development of a scale that assesses clients' satisfaction with services and with their involvement in treatment decisions. METHODS: Long-term users of four client-operated mental health self-help agencies were interviewed at baseline (N=310) and six months (N=248) using the 11-item Self-Help Agency Satisfaction Scale (SHASS). The scale was developed on the basis of consumers' input about their satisfaction with services and their involvement in treatment decisions. To explore the relationship between satisfaction as measured by the SHASS and outcomes, the six-month interview included four outcome measures-independent and assisted social functioning, symptom severity, and a sense of personal empowerment. Internal consistency, stability, and discriminant validity were evaluated. RESULTS: Factor analyses confirmed that the SHASS has two subscales, one assessing service satisfaction and the other assessing satisfaction with involvement in treatment decisions. The scale and its subscales showed high internal consistency, moderate stability, and discriminant validity. The SHASS subscales showed modest associations with two of four outcome measures-assisted and independent social functioning. CONCLUSIONS: The SHASS is a brief instrument that can be used to measure clients' satisfaction with their involvement in treatment in mental health self-help agencies.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Homeless veterans' satisfaction with residential treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Because little is known about homeless individuals' satisfaction with mental health services or the association between satisfaction and measures of treatment outcome, the study examined those issues in a group of homeless veterans. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data were obtained from intake assessments conducted before veterans' admission to residential treatment facilities under contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care for Homeless Veterans program, a national outreach and case management program. Clients completed a satisfaction survey and the Community-Oriented Programs Environment Scale, which asks them to rate dimensions of the treatment environment. Outcome data came from discharge outcome summaries completed by VA case managers. RESULTS: Overall satisfaction with residential treatment services was high among the 1,048 veterans surveyed. Greater satisfaction was associated with more days of drug abuse and more days spent institutionalized in the month before intake and with an intake diagnosis of drug abuse. Regression analyses indicated that satisfaction was most strongly related to clients' perceptions of several factors in the treatment environment. Policy clarity, clients' involvement in the program, an emphasis on order, a practical orientation, and peer support were positively related to satisfaction; staff control and clients' expression of anger were negatively related. Satisfaction was significantly associated with case managers' discharge ratings of clinical improvement of drug problems and psychiatric problems. CONCLUSIONS: Homeless veterans are more satisfied in environments they perceive to be supportive, orderly, and focused on practical solutions. The results indicate that client satisfaction is not related to treatment outcomes strongly enough to serve as a substitute for other outcome measures.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Satisfaction with medical care among elderly people in fee-for-service care and an HMO.

This study investigates satisfaction with care among elderly Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a health maintenance organization (HMO) and beneficiaries in fee-for-service (FFS) care in the same geographic area. Satisfaction with two dimensions of care, access/quality and costs, are examined, to investigate differences in enrollee/FFS evaluation of these dimensions of care as well as predictors of satisfaction with care. In addition, satisfaction among healthy and chronically ill elderly people in these two care settings is explored. Results indicate higher satisfaction with access/quality of care among those in FFS and higher satisfaction with costs among HMO enrollees. These relationships hold controlling for other variables and among the chronically ill elderly. Sources of variation in satisfaction are somewhat different among the HMO and FFS elderly. Satisfaction with paperwork and ease of getting to care, however, influences satisfaction with other aspects of care in both populations.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patient satisfaction instruments used at academic medical centers: results of a survey.

As physicians and health administrators increasingly incorporate patients' perspectives into health care, patient satisfaction has become a significant health care outcome. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the patient satisfaction instruments being used by leading academic medical centers. The objective of this study was to determine the types of patient satisfaction instruments used by leading academic medical centers. We conducted a telephone survey of 16 leading academic medical centers across the United States to determine the types of patient satisfaction instruments used at each institution for outpatient and inpatient care. Among the institutions surveyed, a significantly higher proportion used internally developed surveys for satisfaction measurement among outpatients than for satisfaction measurement among inpatients. Although much attention has been focused on patient satisfaction in recent years, there is little standardization of the patient satisfaction instruments currently being used at the academic medical centers surveyed, particularly for outpatient care. This lack of standardization limits opportunities for benchmarking of patient satisfaction data among peer institutions and may limit efforts to improve care.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed2006

Life satisfaction and resilience in medical school--a six-year longitudinal, nationwide and comparative study.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the relationship between life satisfaction among medical students and a basic model of personality, stress and coping. Previous studies have shown relatively high levels of distress, such as symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts in medical undergraduates. However despite the increased focus on positive psychological health and well-being during the past decades, only a few studies have focused on life satisfaction and coping in medical students. This is the first longitudinal study which has identified predictors of sustained high levels of life satisfaction among medical students. METHODS: This longitudinal, nationwide questionnaire study examined the course of life satisfaction during medical school, compared the level of satisfaction of medical students with that of other university students, and identified resilience factors. T-tests were used to compare means of life satisfaction between and within the population groups. K-means cluster analyses were applied to identify subgroups among the medical students. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and logistic regression analyses were used to compare the subgroups. RESULTS: Life satisfaction decreased during medical school. Medical students were as satisfied as other students in the first year of study, but reported less satisfaction in their graduation year. Medical students who sustained high levels of life satisfaction perceived medical school as interfering less with their social and personal life, and were less likely to use emotion focused coping, such as wishful thinking, than their peers. CONCLUSION: Medical schools should encourage students to spend adequate time on their social and personal lives and emphasise the importance of health-promoting coping strategies.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2002

Family satisfaction with inpatient palliative care in Japan.

Whereas satisfaction is one of the most important outcomes in palliative care settings, there have been no systematic studies investigating the effects of family- and organization-related variables on family satisfaction with care. To clarify factors contributing to family satisfaction with inpatient palliative care services, a cross-sectional mailed survey was performed. A 60-item questionnaire was mailed to 1026 bereaved subjects who had lost family members at one of 37 palliative care units in Japan to evaluate their sociodemographic characteristics and satisfaction levels with care. An institution survey was performed to collect organization-related variables. Caregiver satisfaction was rated on the Satisfaction scale for Family members receiving Inpatient Palliative Care (Sat-Fam-IPC). A total of 640 responses were analysed (response rate = 62%). The responses to overall satisfaction were 'satisfied' in 41 % and 'very satisfied' in 47%. The mean total score of the Sat-Fam-IPC was 82.4 +/- 13.2 on the 0-100 scale. The mean subscale scores were: 85.8 +/- 14.5 (Nursing Care), 81.5 +/- 18.4 (Symptom Palliation), 85.0 +/- 13.8 (Facility), 83.3 +/- 16.6 (Information), 83.1 +/- 17.3 (Availability), 78.3 +/- 18.9 (Family Care), and 79.8 +/- 17.3 (Cost). Significant determinants of family satisfaction identified were: nursing system, the number of nurses at night and presence of attending medical social workers (Nursing Care), patient age and the number of physicians (Symptom Palliation), floor space per bed (Facility), duration of admission and presence of attending medical social workers (Availability), patient age, family age, gender and occupational status (Family Care), patient age and the extra charge for a private room (Cost). In conclusion, informal caregivers are generally satisfied with inpatient palliative care services provided by members of the Japanese Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Units. The levels of satisfaction are influenced by various family- and organization-related variables.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

The impact of a brief expectation survey on parental satisfaction in the pediatric emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of physician knowledge of parental expectations on satisfaction with emergency department (ED) care. METHODS: This was a prospective, controlled, interventional trial involving parents of children presenting to a children's hospital ED. Parents completed an expectation survey on arrival, which was either immediately placed back in the enrollment envelope (control) or shown to the physician caring for the child (intervention). The physician was instructed to initial the expectation survey to acknowledge receipt of the survey. Parents then completed a satisfaction survey at discharge. The primary outcomes were differences in satisfaction with physician review of the expectation survey, as measured by 1) parental ratings of overall care and 2) their willingness to recommend the ED to others. A third (baseline) group completed only a satisfaction survey at discharge. RESULTS: A total of 614 (66%) of the 930 enrolled parents completed the study. Intention-to-treat analysis did not show a significant increase in parental satisfaction ratings for either overall care or recommend the ED; however, only 42% of the intervention group surveys had documented physician review. When these initialed surveys were compared with the control group in a per-protocol analysis, there was a significant improvement in parental satisfaction. There were no differences between the control and baseline groups, indicating no effect of the expectation survey completion on satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Physician knowledge of written parental expectations may improve parental satisfaction during an ED visit. Further work is needed to overcome the barriers to physician review of the expectation survey to maximize parent satisfaction.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed2006

Development, validation, and use of English and Spanish versions of the telemedicine satisfaction and usefulness questionnaire.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the development and validation of low literacy English and Spanish versions of the 26-item Telemedicine Satisfaction and Usefulness Questionnaire (TSUQ), report telemedicine satisfaction and usefulness ratings of urban and rural participants in the Informatics for Diabetes Education and Telemedicine (IDEATel) project, and explore relationships between utilization and perceptions of satisfaction and usefulness. METHODS: Data sources included TSUQ, utilization data from IDEATel log files, and sociodemographic data from the annual IDEATel interview. Psychometric analyses were conducted to examine the reliability and validity of TSUQ. Data were analyzed using descriptive, correlational techniques. RESULTS: The principal components factor analysis extracted two factors (Video Visits, alpha=.96, and Use and Impact, alpha=.92) that explained 63.6% of the variance in TSUQ satisfaction scores. All satisfaction and usefulness items had mean scores of greater than 4 on a 5-point scale. Those from urban areas reported significantly higher ratings on both factors than rural participants as did those who did not know how to use a computer at baseline. Mean frequency of utilization of IDEATel components was highest for blood sugar testing followed by web site for reviewing results, blood pressure testing, video visits, and ADA educational Web pages. Associations between utilization and perceptions of satisfaction and usefulness varied among IDEATel components. CONCLUSION: Psychometric analyses support the construct validity and internal consistency reliability of TSUQ, which is available in both English and Spanish at a readability level of 8th grade. Both rural and urban participants reported high levels of satisfaction and found all IDEATel components useful. Further work is needed to examine the relationships between utilization and perceptions of satisfaction and usefulness and to explore the effects of location (urban versus rural) and ethnicity on satisfaction with telemedicine services.

Diabetes Mellitus↗