Development and validation of a tool to assess patient and caregiver satisfaction for minor pediatric surgical procedures

Introduction : Patient satisfaction questionnaires offer valuable perspectives on patient experiences and the quality of healthcare received. Despite their importance, a gold standard for measuring patient satisfaction in pediatric surgery remains elusive. This study introduces a patient satisfaction questionnaire designed to fill the gap in evaluating patient experiences specifically in pediatric surgical settings, aiming to create a standardized measure for assessing patient satisfaction. Methods : The think-aloud method was used with patient advisors and an expert panel of hospital stakeholders to refine a novel patient and caregiver satisfaction tool. Through an iterative process, data was gathered, analyzed and the survey progressively revised. The final survey was then pilot tested. Results : Three patient advisors and seven hospital stakeholders participated in the study. The think-aloud method was used to establish cognitive, content, and face validity. There were five distinct satisfaction domains established. Pilot testing included 30 participants and was used to establish construct validity and test-retest reliability. Conclusions : This study addresses the existing gap in measuring patient satisfaction in pediatric surgery settings. The think-aloud method was used to ensure cognitive, content, and face validity ensuring multiple domains are addressed. Pilot testing of the tool showed feasibility in both the operating room and minor procedure room setting while also demonstrating test re-test validity. These results indicate that this questionnaire holds promise for use in a variety of pediatric surgical settings. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings in larger, more diverse populations and to assess its impact on improving patient care and experiences.