Assessing the Validity of a Continuum-of-care Survey: A Rasch Measurement Approach

Satisfied patients are more likely to be compliant, have better outcomes, and are more likely to return to the same provider or institution for future care. The Satisfaction with a Continuum of Care survey (SCC) was designed to improve patient care using measures of patient satisfaction and facilitate a cultural shift from a "silos-of-care" to a "continuum-of-care" mentality by fostering inter-departmental communication as patients moved between environments of care at a Midwestern rehabilitation hospital. This study provides a Rasch measurement framework for investigating issues related to survey reliability and validity. The results indicate that although certain aspects of the survey seem to function in a psychometrically sound manner, the questions are too easy to endorse and provide little information to help improve patient care. Suggestions for future revisions to this survey instrument are provided.