Re-certification for urologists: Is the SHEFFPAT questionnaire valid for assessing clinicians’ ‘relationships with patients’?

Summary 

Objective

In urology there is currently no validated and objective way to measure the ‘Relationship with Patients’ aspect of re-validation. The Sheffield Patient Assessment Tool (SHEFFPAT) questionnaire has been validated in a paediatric setting and is recommended by the Picker institute for patient feedback. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility, reliability and validity of the SHEFFPAT questionnaire in urology to determine if it is an appropriate tool to be used for patient feedback.

Subjects and methods

Ten consultants in the North West Region gave permission for the SHEFFPAT questionnaire to be distributed to their patients. A minimum of 25 completed questionnaires was required per consultant. A detailed analysis looking at reliability, bias, feasibility and validity was then carried out.

Results

In total there were 464 completed questionnaires. The cohort mean score was 4.66 (S.D. 0.19) ranging from 2.0 to 5.0. Twenty-three patients are needed to provide feedback in order to achieve a reliability of 0.7 (95% CI 0.21). The gender and ethnicity of the patient nor their familiarity with the urologist helped to explain the variability in scores (R=0.27, R² 0.072, standard error of estimate 0.525).

Conclusion

The SHEFFPAT questionnaire appears to provide reliable, valid and unbiased feedback from the patients’ perspective fulfilling the White Paper and Health Minister's request for patient involvement in the re-validation process.

Abbreviations: GMC, General Medical Council, SHEFFPAT, Sheffield Patient Assessment Tool

Keywords: Re-validation, Re-licensing, Re-certification, Relationship with patients, SHEFFPAT questionnaire