Psychometric and qualitative assessment of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8) among Syrian mental health and psychosocial support service users

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of mental healthcare quality. The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8) is widely used, but its psychometric performance and contextual relevance have not been examined in humanitarian settings. AIMS: To assess the reliability and validity of the CSQ-8 in a sample of displaced and conflict-affected Syrian mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) service users. METHOD: Structured telephone interviews were conducted with Syrian MHPSS service users in North-West Syria. Psychometric analysis assessed the internal consistency and construct validity of the CSQ-8. Convergent validity with therapeutic alliance was examined using the Working Alliance Inventory Short Revised. Item comprehension and contextual relevance were examined using open-ended qualitative responses. RESULTS: = 0.81) and improved model fit (comparative fit index 0.993; Tucker-Lewis index 0.980; root mean square error of approximation 0.065). CONCLUSIONS: In this humanitarian setting, items about a willingness to recommend and intent to return to a service may lack conceptual validity and should be used cautiously. Shorter forms such as the CSQ-4 may be a useful alternative.