The structure of satisfaction with pharmacy services

Med Care. 1998 Feb;36(2):244-50. doi: 10.1097/00005650-199802000-00013.

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this investigation were to evaluate the dimensional structure of satisfaction with pharmacy services, to determine whether satisfaction is best viewed as a unidimensional or multidimensional construct, and to determine the degree of correspondence between a general satisfaction scale and satisfaction with specific aspects of pharmacy services.

Methods: Data was collected via telephone interviews of 509 patrons of traditional retail pharmacies and analyzed using structural equation modeling techniques.

Results: The hypothesized, multidimensional measurement model fit the observed data reasonably well. However, correlations between the latent dimensions of satisfaction with pharmacy services indicated that some dimensions were empirically indistinguishable.

Conclusions: Considering item content and theoretical considerations, modifications to the structure of previously used measures of satisfaction with pharmacy services were suggested. The data also support the hypothesis of a hierarchical model in which general satisfaction could be simultaneously represented as both an overall domain and as a set of distinct dimensions tapping unique aspects of satisfaction with pharmacy services. Depending on the purpose of the measurement, either or both levels of analysis may be useful.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys / methods
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Statistical
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pharmaceutical Services / standards*
  • Pharmaceutical Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*