Construction and validation of an Arabic questionnaire assessing patient satisfaction regarding infection control measures in outpatient physical therapy settings

Abstract Background Traditional physical therapy services offer several advantages that cannot be achieved through distant or tele-rehabilitation methods. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, patient concerns about infection control measures in outpatient physical therapy facilities may impact patient satisfaction, feelings of safety, and, consequently, their commitment to therapy. The current study aimed to construct, validate, and assess the reliability of an Arabic questionnaire assessing patient satisfaction regarding infection control measures in outpatient physical therapy settings. Methods The current questionnaire was constructed depending on the opinions and recommendations of a small focus group of physical therapists and patients. Two hundred sixty patients then completed the final version of the questionnaire. Validity was assessed using principal factor analysis methods, while reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s α. Results The final questionnaire consisted of 11 items divided into three factors: factor I – administrative issues (7 items); factor II – therapist attitude (2 items); and factor III – global (2 items). Cronbach α value (0.870) confirmed the reliability of the entire scale, while the α values for the first, second, and third factors were 0.862, 0.383, and 0.318, respectively. However, the low α value of the second and third factors could be considered below the acceptable average (0.6). Conclusion An infection control measures satisfaction questionnaire was developed with acceptable psychometric characteristics. This tool may help clinics assess and improve infection control practices in outpatient PT settings. It could also be considered a standardized tool for measuring patient satisfaction in PT clinical settings and future research.