Translation and Validation of the Malay Doctor–Patient Communication Questionnaire: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Patients Receiving Hemodialysis in Kelantan, Malaysia

<b>Background</b>: Effective doctor-patient communication is essential for high-quality care, especially for patients with chronic conditions requiring hemodialysis. However, there is a lack of validated tools in the Malay language to measure this communication. This study aimed to translate and validate the Doctor-Patient Communication Questionnaire (DPCQ) into Malay (MyD-PCQ) for use among patients receiving hemodialysis in Kelantan, Malaysia. <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 patients receiving hemodialysis at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. The original English DPCQ was translated and culturally adapted into Malay following international guidelines, including forward and backward translation, expert review, and cognitive debriefing. Data were collected using the Malay version of the questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) assessed the construct validity, while Raykov's rho measured internal consistency. <b>Results</b>: The Malay version of the DPCQ demonstrated excellent model fit in CFA (χ²/df = 1.25, <i>p</i> = 0.053; SRMR = 0.037; RMSEA = 0.029; CFI = 0.982; and TLI = 0.979). Factor loadings ranged from 0.493 to 0.640. The internal consistency was high, with Raykov's rho of 0.887. The average total score among participants was 37.31 out of 60, indicating moderate perceived communication quality. <b>Conclusions</b>: The Malay Doctor-Patient Communication Questionnaire (MyD-PCQ) is a valid and reliable tool for assessing communication between doctors and patients receiving hemodialysis in Malaysia. Its use can help identify communication gaps, support training initiatives, and improve patient-centered care in clinical practice. Future research should evaluate its use in other settings and patient populations.