The Patient Satisfaction Scale - An empirical investigation into the Finnish adaptation

Rationale and aims: The aim of this paper is to empirically investigate the performance characteristics of the Finnish adaptation PSS-Fin of the Patient Satisfaction Scale (PSS) intended to measure patient satisfaction with nursing care. The PSS-Fin includes three sub-scales: technical-scientific, informational and interaction/support care-needs. Methods: The PSS-Fin was used in a cross-sectional survey measuring the satisfaction of Finnish surgical patients (n = 454) with the nursing care they received. The feasibility, internal consistency, stability, equivalence and construct validity of the measure were investigated. Evaluation was based on statistical methods. Results: The PSS is brief and easy to use, and it produced low missing data. Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranged from 0.79 to 0.89 for the sub-scales. The items correlated strongly with the sub-scales and the sub-scales with the total PSS as well. Test-retest reliability of 0.7 showed reasonable stability over time. Three factor analytic procedures supported for the three-factor solution with a technical-scientific, informational and interaction/support factors, explaining approximately 77% of the variance. The PSS had some equivalence with another satisfaction instrument, but also exhibited the ability to discriminate between each other. In multiple regression analysis the informational care-needs sub-scale was the most significant factor explaining patient satisfaction. Conclusion: The PSS-Fin demonstrated good psychometric properties and conceptual rigour and is thus reliable tool for examining patient satisfaction with nursing care.