Development of the Interpersonal Processes of Care Survey–Japanese version

Abstract

Aims In the past two decades, there has been growing interest in patient‐doctor communication in psychiatry, and several treatment options have been established. This study aimed to develop the Interpersonal Processes of Care Survey–Japanese version (IPC‐J), which measures multidimensional communication and the relationship between doctors and patients in Japanese psychiatry. Method We conducted a cross‐sectional questionnaire survey at one psychiatric hospital and two psychiatric clinics in Japan and investigated the factor validity, convergent validity, internal consistency, and test‐retest reliability of the IPC‐J. Result Overall, 148 eligible patients participated in the study and were included in the analyses. Data from 16 participants were used to examine test‐retest reliability. An exploratory factor analysis using 23 items from the IPC scale was performed to clarify the factor structure in a Japanese psychiatric setting. The final IPC‐J contained 22 items and a two‐factor structural model. High internal consistency (α > .8) and moderate test‐retest reliability (interclass correlation > .65) were observed. Regarding convergent validity, the factor 1 “Doctor's communication‐related attitudes and skills” was significantly correlated with service satisfaction, empowerment, and medication adherence, whereas the factor 2 “Consideration for the patient's to promote own treatment decisions” was correlated with service satisfaction and medication adherence. Conclusion The IPC‐J appears to be a useful tool for assessing patient views on interpersonal communication with doctors in a Japanese psychiatric setting. While the analysis suggested utilizing an IPC‐J with 22 items, the full IPC‐J can be used in cross‐cultural studies.