Self-report questionnaire for measuring presence: development and initial validation
Sammanfattning
Background
The concept of ‘presence’ appears frequently in the literature and seems to be a highly relevant
concept in discussing and evaluating quality of relations in healthcare practices. However, no
existing self-report measure of presence for health professionals was found.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was (i) to develop a self-report questionnaire for measuring presence and
(ii) to conduct initial psychometric testing of the questionnaire.
Method
The process followed two steps. Phase 1 consisted of the development of 64 items that were derived
from the ‘theory of presence’ (ToP) as developed by Andries Baart in the Netherlands in 2001. Face
and content validity were completed by a panel of experts in ToP. A pilot study to test
understandability was done (N = 22). During Phase 2, 48 remaining items of the Presence
Questionnaire for Caregivers (PQ-C) were tested among 723 healthcare professionals. Exploratory
principal component analysis was conducted, and reliability coefficients and known-group validity
were assessed.
Results
Principal component analysis showed three new components that were labelled ‘dedicated attitude’,
‘openness in perception’ and ‘reciprocal humaneness’. Thirty-one items were retained which explain
25.4% of the variance. An initial psychometric assessment of the shortened scale showed a
Cronbach's alpha of 0.82 and a Spearman-Brown coefficient (for equal length) of 0.63. There were
significant differences in sum scores between groups based on age, years of experience and
familiarity with ToP.
Conclusion
It appeared possible to develop a self-report questionnaire for measuring presence and establish
face and content validity. In initial exploratory factor analysis, the eight theoretical principles of ToP
used to develop the questionnaire were not reflected, and three new components appeared. Further
research is needed to examine the value of the three new dimensions, and investigation into the
construct validity and reliability of the three new components is recommended. Published by
arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.